The Department of Surgery

Mark A. Casillas, Jr., MD, FACS

Associate Professor
Division of Colorectal Surgery

Clinical Focus

Colon and Rectal Surgery; Neoplasms of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Benign Diseases of the Anorectum; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Robotic Colon and Rectal Surgery; Single Incision Laparoscopy; Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery

Research Focus

Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Advances in Robotic Colorectal Surgical Outcomes

Education

Graduate School
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

Medical School
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Internship
General Surgery, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI

Residency
General Surgery, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI

Fellowship
Colon and Rectal Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Certifications

American Board of Surgery
American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Fellow
American College of Surgeons, Fellow
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Current Publications

Schmocker RK, Enomoto LM, Low GK, McLoughlin JM, Casillas MA Jr, Antill AC, Heidel RE, Russ AJ..
Further distance from treating facility is associated with advanced colon cancer at presentation and increased mortality. Am Surg. 2024 Mar 29:31348241241613. doi: 10.1177/00031348241241613. Online ahead of print.

Brown S, McLoughlin J, Russ A, Casillas M, Buehler J, Heidel RE, Yates JR.
Alvimopan retains efficacy in patients undergoing colorectal surgery within an established ERAS program. Surg Endosc. 2022 Aug;36(8):6129-6137. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08928-7. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

Brown S, McLoughlin J, Russ A, Casillas M, Buehler J, Heidel RE, Yates JR.
Alvimopan retains efficacy in patients undergoing colorectal surgery within an established ERAS program. Surg Endosc. 2022 Aug;36(8):6129-6137. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08928-7. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

Current Presentations

Murdock P, Jong J, Russ A, Casillas M. Robotic versus laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectosigmoid adenocarcinoma Presented at Tennessee Chapter of American College of Surgeons ; 2023 July-27; Fall Creek Falls, TN.

Murdock P, Jong J, Heidel E, Casillas M, Russ A. Robotic versus Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectosigmoid Adenocarcinoma: A Single Center Experience Presented at 2023 Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Chapter, American College of Surgeons; 2023 June - 27; Spencer,Tennessee.

Jong J, Russ A, Martin, McLoughlin J, Casillas M. Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectosigmoid Adenocarcinoma: A Single-center experience. Presented at 2022 Annual Residents’ Research Day; 2022 June-10; Knoxville, TN.

Foulke E, Jong J, Russ A, Casillas M. Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract with bioprosthetic mesh offers a promising relief for patients suffering from anal fistula: A review of LIFT outcomes data. Presented at Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; 2021 Aug 31 - Sep 3; Las Vegas, NV.

Foulke E, Jong J, Russ A, Casillas M. Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract with bioprosthetic mesh offers a promising relief for patients suffering from anal fistula: A review of LIFT outcomes data. Presented at Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; 2021 Aug 31 - Sep 3; Las Vegas, NV.

Foulke E, Jong J, Russ A, Casillas M. Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract with bioprosthetic mesh offers a promising relief for patients suffering from anal fistula: A review of LIFT outcomes data. Presented at Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; 2021 Aug 31 - Sep 3; Las Vegas, NV.

Arroyave AJ, Good AW, McLoughlin JM, Casillas MA, Heidel RE, Russ AJ. Disparities in presentation and treatment of colon cancer between rural and metropolitan communities. Presented at Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; 2021 Aug 6-8; Memphis, TN.

Antill AC, Lewis RE, Taylor JE, Daley BJ, McLoughlin JM, Casillas MA, Russ AJ. Effect of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol implementation on colectomy cost and length of stay: Open vs minimally invasive approach. Presented at Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; 2021 Aug 6-8; Memphis, TN.

Arroyave AJ, Antill AC, Schmocker RK, McLoughlin JM, Casillas MA, Heidel RE, Russ AJ. Racial disparities lead to differences in presentation of colon cancer in rural southeast region. Presented at Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; 2021 Aug 6-8; Memphis, TN.

Jong JK, Foulke E, Russ A, Casillas M. Treatment of fecal incontinence with sacral nerve stimulation outcomes and complication rates. Presented at Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons; 2021 Aug 6-8; Memphis, TN.