Dr. 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 of Psychology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and as a Professional Associate at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Allan is the psychologist for Weill Cornell's Center for Comprehensive Spine Care. Alongside cardiologist Dr. Stephen Scheidt, he coined the term "cardiac psychology" with their seminal 1996 book, "Heart and Mind: The Practice of Cardiac Psychology," now in its second edition. Dr. Allan has lectured around the United States, in Canada, Austria, Italy, China, Greece, and Israel. He led the first stress management program (for officers and wives) at the US Military Academy at West Point.

Currently, Dr. Allan's research focuses on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as "Stress Cardiomyopathy" or "Broken Heart Syndrome." This condition often mimics the symptoms of a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of breath, typically triggered by a psychologically stressful event. Despite the significant emotional aftermath of a Takotsubo event, there is a lack of specialized psychological treatment at Weill Cornell Medical Center. To address this gap, Dr. Allan has developed a virtual support group intervention aimed at providing psychological support to affected patients. This innovative study will assess the efficacy of the virtual support group in mitigating the emotional impact of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, potentially paving the way for improved patient care and outcomes. In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr. Allan is also a passionate musician, showcasing his talents on the piano in his original music compositions.