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Alan T. Blank, MD, MS

Alan Blank, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Oncology, RUSH Medical College
Rush Cancer Center
Education

MD, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL
MS, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, IL
Orthopedic Surgery Residency, New York University, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York City, NY
Sarcoma & Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship, Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Research Areas

Bone, cartilage and soft tissues sarcoma; Metastatic bone disease; Limb Salvage; Functional and patient reported outcomes in musculoskeletal oncology; 3D printed in orthopedic oncology; Plasma surgery in musculoskeletal oncology

Links:
Biography

Alan Blank, MD, MS, specializes in malignant and benign musculoskeletal growths and performing limb-salvage surgery in adults as well as children. He also treats a number of general orthopedic conditions and performs joint replacement surgery. 

Blank is originally from Connecticut and attended the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate degree, earning a BA in English Literature. While there he was a member of the Division 1 men’s crew team.

He then attended the Chicago Medical School, serving as class president, and earned both his MD and a Masters in biomedical sciences and research. After medical school, Blank completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency in New York City at the prestigious NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases. He received the Resident Research Award while there for his work on prophylactic surgical treatment for metastatic bone disease.

Blank then went on to complete a year of training in adult and pediatric musculoskeletal oncology and sarcoma surgery at the renowned Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Blank has an interest in treating benign and malignant primary growths of the musculoskeletal system, as well as metastatic bone disease. He has published many peer reviewed scientific articles in the field of orthopedic oncology, co-authored a number of textbook chapters, and presented at many internationally attended academic conferences. He also treats a comprehensive set of non-tumor related conditions such as joint reconstruction, fractures and other general orthopedics. 

He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Connective Tissue Oncologic Tumor Society (CTOS) and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS). 

Blank currently lives in Chicago with his wife, who is a pediatrician in the city, their daughter, two son and two dogs. 

Honors and Activities

Swim Across America Grant for Cancer Research - $50,000 - Cell Autophagy Investigation in Metastatic Bone Disease, Creation of PDX Model for Bone Metastases and Correlation with Patient Clinical Outcomes. Awarded 2019.

Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine 40 under 40 Award Winner - “Crain’s Chicago Business gathers 40 of the Chicago area’s best and brightest whom have made a mark before their 40th birthday.” Awarded 2019

F1000 Prime Associate Faculty Member Travel Grant - 2018

Senior Resident Research Award –Is Prophylactic Intervention More Cost-effective Than the Treatment of Pathologic Fractures in Metastatic Bone Disease? 2016

International Congress for Joint Reconstruction Resident Scholarship Award for Shoulder Surgery. 2015

Foundation of Orthopaedic Trauma Resident Scholarship Award. 2014

Dean’s Award, Outstanding Service to the medical school. Awarded to one senior medical student from Chicago Medical School annually. 2011

Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society, Peer nominated and confirmed by a committee of faculty, administration and staff. Members demonstrate the highest degree of integrity, sound moral reasoning, respect for others, a willingness to engage in supportive patient interaction. 2010

Professionalism Award, recipient for Chicago Medical School 2008-2009. The Professionalism Award honors individuals for demonstrating humanism and professionalism in and out of the classroom, beyond what is expected. 2009

Publications

Alan T. Blank, MD, MS PubMed Profile

Invited Presentations

  1. Sarcoma Care in an Urban Healthcare System: Which Factors Lead to Variance of Care? American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Poster Presentation March 2013 Presenter.

  2. Risk Factors for Acute Surgical Site Infections in Orthopaedic Oncology Patients. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons March 2014. Poster Presentation. Presenter

  3. Cost Effectiveness of Prophylactic Skeletal Fixation in Orthopaedic Oncology Patients. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons March 2015. Podium Presentation. Presenter

  4. Outcomes of Computer Assisted Surgical Modeling in Orthopaedic Oncology: A Single Institutional Experience with a New Surgical Technique. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Orlando FL 2015. poster presentation. Presenter

  5. Unicameral Bone Cyst: Does Surgical Technique And Type Of Graft Affect Clinical Outcomes? Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Orlando FL 2015. Podium Presentation,

  6. Unicameral Bone Cyst: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orlando FL 2016. Scientific Exhibit

  7. Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Bone Lesions. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orlando FL 2016. Scientific Exhibit. Presenter

  8. Results Of PROMIS Physical Functional And Pain Interference Scores In Surgically Treated Patients With Metastatic Bone Disease: Analysis After Early Patient Enrollment In A Multicenter, Prospective Study. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Denver CO 2017podium presentation, Presenter

  9. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Compliance In A Single Center Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Service: A Retrospective Review Of 35 Patients. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Denver CO 2017poster presentation, Presenter

  10. A Novel Method To Prevent Terminal Appositional Overgrowth Following Pediatric Below Knee Amputations. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Denver CO 2017poster presentation, Presenter

  11. What Factors Influence Patient Experience In Orthopedic Oncology Outpatient Clinic Visits? A Prospective Collection Of Data From 162 Patient Encounters. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Denver CO 2017poster presentation, Presenter

  12. Results Of PROMIS Physical Functional And Pain Interference Scores In Surgically Treated Patients With Metastatic Bone Disease: Analysis After Early Patient Enrollment In A Multicenter, Prospective Study . Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Maui HI 2017 poster presentation. Presenter

  13. Osteosarcoma Of Femur With Colon And Mesenteric Metastasis: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature. Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Maui HI 2017 poster presentation. Presenter

  14. A Novel Method ToPrevent Terminal Appositional Overgrowth Following Pediatric Below Knee Amputations. Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Maui HI 2017 poster presentation. Presenter

  15. What Factors Influence Patient Experience In Orthopedic Oncology Outpatient Clinic Visits? A Prospective Collection Of Data From 162 Patient Encounters. Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Maui HI 2017 poster presentation. Presenter

  16. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Compliance in a Single Center Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Service: A Retrospective Review of 35 Patients. Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Maui HI 2017 Final Program Publication.

  17. Results Of PROMIS Physical Functional And Pain Interference Scores In Surgically Treated Patients With Metastatic Bone Disease: Analysis After Early Patient Enrollment In A Multicenter, Prospective Study. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurements Instruments Annual Conference. Philadelphia PA 2017. Poster Presentation.

  18. A clinicopathologic examination of myxofibrosarcoma. Rates of local recurrence, metastases and patient survival from a single institutional review of 40 cases. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, NY, NY 2018 poster presentation, Presenter

  19. Reduced Toxicity, Preserved Efficacy with a Modified Neoadjuvant Interdigitated Chemoradiotherapy Approach and Modern Treatment Planning Techniques in the Management of Large, High-Grade Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, NY, NY 2018 poster presentation, Presenter

  20. A clinicopathologic examination of myxofibrosarcoma.Rates of local recurrence, metastases and patient survival from a single institutional review of 40 cases. Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Rome Italy 2018 poster presentation, Presenter

  21. Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma with a novel cold plasma jet. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Chicago IL 2019. online publication Presenter

  22. Clinical Benefit of NGS in Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma: Rush University Medical Center’s Experience. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Chicago IL 2019. online publication

  23. Treatment Of Soft Tissue Sarcoma With A Novel Cold Plasma Jet. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Portland, OR 2019 Paper presentation, Presenter

  24. Clinical Benefit Of NGS In Soft Tissue And Bone Sarcoma: Rush University Medical Center’s Experience . Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Portland, OR 2019 poster presentation

  25. Tumors and Tumor-Like Conditions That Every Orthopedist Should Be Aware Of. Instructional Course Lecture(ICL). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orlando FL 2020. Presenting Faculty.