Erin Dean

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Papers

Total Citations

143

H-Index

About

Erin Dean is a leading colorectal surgeon whose research focuses on optimizing surgical recovery and advancing minimally invasive techniques for cancer patients. Her most impactful work centers on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols and robotic surgical innovation. Dean's landmark study, the "RecoverMI trial" (78 citations), demonstrated that combining minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery with accelerated recovery protocols and telemedicine follow-up significantly reduces hospital stays and improves patient outcomes—a finding that has reshaped perioperative care standards. She also made critical contributions to rectal cancer management through her investigation of extended robotic resection (65 citations), showing that robotic approaches can achieve excellent oncologic outcomes while preserving function. Dean's work bridges surgical technique and patient-centered recovery, with her research cited over 140 times collectively. Her achievements include pioneering the integration of telemedicine into surgical recovery pathways, a practice that gained particular relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic. For students and researchers, Dean exemplifies how rigorous clinical trials can translate into tangible improvements in cancer surgery—shortening hospitalizations, reducing complications, and enhancing quality of life for colorectal cancer patients.