Biographical summary
Dr. Thiels is a cancer surgeon and researcher who specializes in the surgical management of patients with sarcomas, pancreatic cancer, and metastatic colon cancer. He also has extensive training and experience in the treatment of appendiceal cancers, neuroendocrine tumors, pancreatic cysts, gastric cancer, and GIST. 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 is trained in the placement and management of Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Chemotherapy for the management of unresectable liver tumors.
Dr. Thiels' lab focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing surgery and those with rare and advanced cancers.
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
- Abdominal surgery
- Cancer treatment
- Cholecystectomy
- Cytoreductive surgery
- Gastrectomy
- Hepatic artery infusion pump chemotherapy
- HIPEC
- Irreversible electroporation
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Liver resection
- Microwave ablation for cancer
- Minimally invasive cancer surgery
- Minimally invasive liver surgery
- Minimally invasive pancreas surgery
- Pancreatectomy
- Pancreatic enucleation
- Robotic surgery
- Splenectomy
- Whipple procedure
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2021
Chief Fellow - Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowshp Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- 2019
ResidentSurgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2019
Chief ResidentMayo Clinic
- 2016
Research Scholar - Surgical Outcomes Research FellowshipMayo Clinic
- 2014
Internship - General SurgeryMayo Clinic
- 2013
Doctor of Osteopathic MedicineKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
- 2013
MBA - Healthcare AdministrationRockhurst University
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2022
Complex General Surgical OncologyAmerican Board of Surgery
- 2019
General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery
Awards and honors
- 2022
Kern Grant AwardMayo Clinic
- 2021
Career Development Award Recipient Department of Surgery
- 2020
Dr. Murray F. Brennan/David and Monica Gorin Sarcoma FellowMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/Weil Cornell New York Presbyterian
- 2020
Chief Fellow, Department of SurgicalMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- 2018
SSO Annual Conference Poster of DistinctionSociety of Surgical Oncology
- 2018
Mayo Brother Distinguished Fellowship AwardMayo Clinic
- 2018
H.K. Gray Travel Award Mayo Clinic
- 2018
Silver Award of the IHF/Austco Excellence Award for Quality & Safety and Patient-Centered CareInternational Hospital Federation
- 2017
Nygaard AwardMayo Clinic
- 2017
Inlow AwardMayo Clinic
- 2016
Mayo International Health Program (MIHP) Scholarship Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
- 2015
Poster of Distinction: Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Are Combined Procedures Justified? Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
- 2015
Mayo Quality Fellow: Gold Award
Mayo Clinic
- 2015
Mayo Quality Fellow: Silver Award
Mayo Clinic
- 2015
Mayo Quality Fellow: Bronze Award
Mayo Clinic
- 2014
Balfour AwardMayo Clinic
- 2013
Student DO of the Year AwardCouncil of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents
- 2013
Outstanding Senior AwardKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
- 2013
Robert B. Cotter Award in SurgeryKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
- 2010
Dr. Vernon Hayes Physicians Hall of Sponsors ScholarshipKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Professional memberships
- 2023 - present
Board AdvisorAmerican Cancer Society
- 2023 - present
MemberSurgery Peer Review Research Committee
- 2023 - present
American College of Surgeons Cancer Surgery Standards Program, Content Development Committee
- 2022 - present
ChairAmerican College of Surgeons, Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees
- 2022 - 2025
ChairAmerican College of Surgeons
- 2022 - 2023
MemberCancer Pragmatic Trials Working Group
- 2022 - 2023
Review Panel MemberRochester Commitment Against Racism (RCAR)
- 2022 - 2023
MemberKern Center Diversity Science TaskForce
- 2022 - present
Committee MemberMayo Clinic Cancer Center Pragmatic Trials Working Group
- 2022 - present
Commiittee MemberRochester Commitment Against Racism (RCAR)
- 2022 - present
Committee MemberKern Center Diversity Science TaskForce
- 2019 - present
MemberAmerican Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Association - Opioid Advisory Task Force
- 2017 - 2019
MemberAmerican College of Surgeons - Advisory Council for General Surgery
- 2017 - present
MemberSociety of Surgical Oncology
- 2016 - 2019
MemberMayo Clinic Surgical Quality Subcommittee
- 2016 - present
MemberAmericas Hepatobiliary Association (AHPBA)
- 2015 - 2017
MemberMayo Clinic Historical Committee
- 2015 - 2017
Co-PresidentMayo Clinic Willis Historical Society
- 2014 - 2016
Academic ChairmanMayo Clinic Fellows Association
Publications
Research activities