Atlanta, Ga. (December 17, 2024) – Piedmont Heart Institute and Piedmont Oncology Institute welcome Allan Pickens, M.D., to the thoracic surgery team at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.

Dr. Pickens specializes in thoracic surgery with a focus on minimally-invasive robotic and thoracoscopic techniques, removal of early-stage lung cancers and esophageal cancers, mediastinal tumors and chest wall tumors, hiatal hernia repairs, anti-reflux surgery, hyperhidrosis treatment, and pectus repairs.

Dr. Pickens will see patients at Piedmont Atlanta, Piedmont Eastside, Piedmont Newnan and Piedmont Heart of Douglasville, and will perform cases at Piedmont Atlanta.

“The Piedmont Oncology team looks forward to partnering with Dr. Pickens to offer exceptional multidisciplinary cancer care for our patients,” said Walter J. (Wally) Curran Jr., M.D., chief of Piedmont Oncology. “We are continuing to add high-quality physicians across our teams to provide the highest-quality care close to home.”

Dr. Pickens says he looks forward to returning to the Atlanta area.

Dr. Pickens most recently served as Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.  For many years prior, he served on the faculty at Emory School of Medicine. At Emory he served as professor of Thoracic Surgery, director of Thoracic Oncology, program director for Cardiothoracic Surgery, and medical director of Perioperative Services for Emory University Hospital Midtown. He was a member of the Winship Cancer Institute.

“Dr. Pickens brings a wealth of experience to our team that supports our commitment to provide the highest quality minimally-invasive and robotic thoracic surgery care to our patients,” said thoracic surgeon Eric Sceusi, M.D.

Dr. Pickens is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Pickens received his undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also did his residency.  He then completed a thoracic surgery residency at The University of Michigan Hospitals, a minimally-invasive thoracic surgery fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and a general thoracic surgery fellowship at The University of Michigan.

In his spare time, Dr. Pickens enjoys horseback riding, biking, and spending time with his family. Dr. Pickens welcomes new patients and accepts most major insurance plans.