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Cornelius A. Thiels, D.O., M.B.A.

  1. Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgeon
  2. Surgical Oncologist
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Departments

Specialty Groups

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

EnglishGerman

Existing patients

Dr. Thiels is a cancer surgeon and researcher who specializes in the surgical management of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas pancreatic cancer. He also has extensive training and experience in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, GIST, gastric cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer. Dr. Thiels has special expertise in multimodality treatment of advanced or metastatic cancers, in which surgery is combined with radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.

Dr. Thiels utilizes minimally invasive techniques to perform a variety of operations (including robotic surgery) and leads the Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Chemotherapy program at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Thiels runs a Health Services Research and Artificial Intelligence Lab focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing surgery and those with rare and advanced cancers.

  1. Carcinoid tumor
  2. Gallbladder cancer
  3. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
  4. Liposarcoma
  5. Liver tumor
  6. Neuroendocrine tumor
  7. Pancreatic cancer
  8. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
  9. Recurrent cancer
  10. Retroperitoneal sarcoma
  11. Sarcoma
  12. Stage 4 colorectal cancer
  13. Stomach cancer
  1. Abdominal surgery
  2. Cancer treatment
  3. Cholecystectomy
  4. Cytoreductive surgery
  5. Gastrectomy
  6. Hepatic artery infusion pump chemotherapy
  7. HIPEC
  8. Intraoperative radiation therapy
  9. Laparoscopic surgery
  10. Liver resection
  11. Microwave ablation for cancer
  12. Minimally invasive cancer surgery
  13. Minimally invasive liver surgery
  14. Minimally invasive pancreas surgery
  15. Pancreatectomy
  16. Pancreatic enucleation
  17. Robotic surgery
  18. Splenectomy
  19. Whipple procedure
  1. 2021
    Chief Fellow - Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  2. 2019
    ResidencyMayo Clinic
  3. 2016
    Research Scholar - Surgical Outcomes Research FellowshipMayo Clinic
  4. 2013
    Doctor of Osteopathic MedicineKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
  5. 2013
    MBA - Healthcare AdministrationRockhurst University

Certifications

  1. 2022
    Complex General Surgical OncologyAmerican Board of Surgery
  2. 2019
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2024
    Excellence through Teamwork AwardMayo Clinic
  2. 2023
    Young Alumni Achievement AwardKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB)
  3. 2020
    Dr. Murray F. Brennan/David and Monica Gorin Sarcoma FellowMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/Weil Cornell New York Presbyterian
  4. 2020
    Chief Fellow, Department of Surgery Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  5. 2018
    Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship AwardMayo Clinic
  6. 2018
    H.K. Gray Travel Award Mayo Clinic
  7. 2017
    Nygaard AwardMayo Clinic
  8. 2017
    Inlow AwardMayo Clinic
  9. 2014
    Balfour AwardMayo Clinic
  10. 2013
    Robert B. Cotter Award in SurgeryKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

Professional memberships

  1. 2023 - 2026
    Member of the Minnesota Associate Board of AmbassadorsState of Minnesota, American Cancer Society
  2. 2023 - 2026
    Network Co-ChairMinnesota Cancer Alliance
  3. 2023 - 2024
    Executive Board Member and Program ChairMinnesota Surgical Society
  4. 2023
    MemberBold. Forward. Unbound in Rochester.
  5. 2023 - present
    MemberSurgery Peer Review Research Committee
  6. 2023 - present
    Commiittee MemberMidwest Surgical Quality Subcommittee
  7. 2023 - present
    Committee MemberRochester Patient Safety Subcommittee
  8. 2023 - present
    MemberConnective Tissue Oncology Society
  9. 2022 - 2023
    Committee MemberKern Center Diversity Science TaskForce
  10. 2022 - 2023
    Review Panel MemberRochester Commitment Against Racism (RCAR)
  11. 2017 - present
    MemberSociety of Surgical Oncology
  12. 2016 - present
    MemberAmericas Hepatobiliary Association (AHPBA)

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.