Mark S. Allen, MD
Dr. Mark S. Allen is an internationally recognized cardiothoracic and general thoracic surgeon and consultant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His clinical interests include esophageal surgery and pulmonary surgery, as well as minimally invasive surgical procedures for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other thoracic malignancies.[1]
Speaking of his dedication to constantly improving patient care, Dr. Allen says, “As cardiothoracic surgeons, our commitment is to providing patients with the highest quality of care, which requires that we remain active in continuing our education and learning the newest techniques available.”
Education and Career
Dr. Allen earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, then went on to graduate school at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He earned his medical degree at Hahnemann University Medical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University. Following his residency, he was named the Robert Linton Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, was named Chief Resident of General Surgery, and then was named Chief Resident of Cardiothoracic Surgery while completing a residency in that specialty. While pursuing his residencies, he took a year off to work in a cardiac laboratory to study the effects of medications on myocardial function.[2]
Dr. Allen has been a consultant at the Mayo Clinic in the Division of General Thoracic Surgery since 1990. Today, in addition to serving as a Professor of Surgery, he has been named Emeritus of the Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Mayo Clinic’s Department of Surgery.[1]
Professional Memberships and Activities
Dr. Allen is a past president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and past chair of the board of the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education. He has also served as treasurer for the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education and has as examination chair for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.[1]
Dr. Allen is also a member of the American Board of Surgery and serves as an editorial board member of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the official journal of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.[2]
Research
Dr. Allen is dedicated to finding ways to make hospitalization and outcomes better for patients by using data collected during every operation. He specifically pursues research into improving outcomes for patients with lung, thoracic, or esophageal cancers. His focus areas include outcome research using databases, lymph node sampling versus complete lymphadenectomy for lung cancer, and treatment of atrial fibrillation after lung surgery.[1]
His clinical trials include:[4]
Bias Against Complex Lung Cancer Surgery. Allen MS, Harmsen WS, Mandrekar J, Rocco G.Ann Thorac Surg. 2021 Dec;112(6):1824-1831. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.12.019. Epub 2021 Jan 4.PMID: 33412137
Predictors of Patient-Reported Reflux After Esophagectomy.Hasan IS, Mahajan N, Viehman J, Allen MS, Cassivi SD, Lee MK, Nichols FC, Pierson K, Reisenauer JS, Shen RK, Wigle DA, Blackmon SH.Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Oct;110(4):1160-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.03.127. Epub 2020 May 23.PMID: 32454018
Management of Epiphrenic Diverticula and Short-term Outcomes.Sudarshan M, Fort MW, Barlow JM, Allen MS, Ravi K, Nichols F, Cassivi SD, Wigle DA, Shen RK, Blackmon SH.Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Spring;33(1):242-246. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2020.08.017. Epub 2020 Aug 25.PMID: 32853738
Robert A. Wynbrandt-Executive Director & General Counsel of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons June 1, 2002-March 15, 2019. Allen MS, Baumgartner WA, Bavaria JE, Mathisen DJ, Wood DE.Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Jul;108(1):1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.04.001.PMID: 31230708 No abstract available.
Preliminary Normative Standards of the Mayo Clinic Esophagectomy CONDUIT Tool.Mahajan NN, Lee MK, Yost KJ, Pierson KE, Viehman JK, Allen MS, Cassivi SD, Nichols FC, Reisenauer JS, Shen KR, Wigle DA, Blackmon SH.Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2019 Nov 22;3(4):429-437. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.07.008. eCollection 2019 Dec.PMID: 31993561 PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing esophagectomy often have little understanding about postoperative symptom management. The Mayo Clinic esophageal CONDUIT tool is a validated questionnaire comprising 5 multi-item symptom-assessment domains and 2 health-assessment d …
