Associate Professor
Mayo Clinic Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Kathryn (Katie) M. Van Abel, MD. Associate Professor and Research Chair of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Van Abel earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College (now Sidney Kimmel Medical College) in Philadelphia, PA, after completing her undergraduate work at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH. She went on to complete both her residency and Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Reconstruction fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. After completing her training in 2016, she joined the Mayo Clinic faculty. Her practice involves the evaluation and management of a broad range of head and neck disease, focusing on surgical oncology and reconstruction. She has a special clinical interest in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, skull base surgery, and salivary disease. Her research focuses primarily on HPV associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (tumor genetics, host immune response, surveillance biomarkers, management de-escalation, and outcomes). In addition, she is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion programs within Otolaryngology and has created several pipeline programs focused on high school, college, and medical students as well as career advancement for practicing otolaryngologists in the field. She currently serves as the Chair for the Protocol Review and Monitoring System for the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. Outside of work she is an avid skier, mountain biker, and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spending time traveling and playing outside with her family.