Biographical summary
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.
Conditions treated
Procedures performed
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2021
Chief Fellow - Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- 2019
ResidentSurgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2019
ResidencyMayo Clinic
- 2016
Research Scholar - Surgical Outcomes Research FellowshipMayo 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
- 2024
Excellence through Teamwork AwardMayo Clinic
- 2023
Young Alumni Achievement AwardKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB)
- 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 Surgery
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- 2018
Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship AwardMayo Clinic
- 2018
H.K. Gray Travel Award Mayo Clinic
- 2017
Nygaard AwardMayo Clinic
- 2017
Inlow AwardMayo Clinic
- 2014
Balfour AwardMayo Clinic
- 2013
Robert B. Cotter Award in SurgeryKansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Professional memberships
- 2023 - 2026
Member of the Minnesota Associate Board of AmbassadorsState of Minnesota, American Cancer Society
- 2023 - 2026
Network Co-ChairMinnesota Cancer Alliance
- 2023 - 2024
Executive Board Member and Program ChairMinnesota Surgical Society
- 2023
MemberBold. Forward. Unbound in Rochester.
- 2023 - present
MemberSurgery Peer Review Research Committee
- 2023 - present
Commiittee MemberMidwest Surgical Quality Subcommittee
- 2023 - present
Committee MemberRochester Patient Safety Subcommittee
- 2023 - present
MemberConnective Tissue Oncology Society
- 2022 - 2023
Committee MemberKern Center Diversity Science TaskForce
- 2022 - 2023
Review Panel MemberRochester Commitment Against Racism (RCAR)
- 2017 - present
MemberSociety of Surgical Oncology
- 2016 - present
MemberAmericas Hepatobiliary Association (AHPBA)
Publications
Research activities