Dr. Robert Allan

Biography

Robert Allan, Ph.D., is a distinguished clinical psychologist specializing in cardiac psychology, stress and anger management, and pain medicine. He serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and has a clinical role at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Allan is recognized for coining the term "cardiac psychology" alongside cardiologist Dr. Stephen Scheidt in their seminal book, "Heart Mind: Practice Cardiac Psychology," published in 1996. He has lectured extensively across the United States, Canada, and various countries in Europe and Asia. Dr. Allan has been involved in leading a stress management program for the spouses of officers at the Military Academy at West Point. His current research focuses on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, known as "Stress Cardiomyopathy" or "Broken Heart Syndrome," which mimics heart attack symptoms and is triggered by psychological stress. To address the lack of specialized psychological support for this condition, Dr. Allan has developed a virtual support group intervention aimed at providing psychological assistance to affected patients. This innovative study aims to assess the efficacy of the virtual support group in mitigating the emotional impact of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, with the potential to improve patient care outcomes. Beyond his clinical and research work, Dr. Allan is a passionate musician, showcasing his talents through original music compositions.

Research Interests