Dr. Paul Howard Allen, MD

Dr. Allen was always interested in the sciences and thought he might become an astrologist or meteorologist, but when he saw how grateful people were to his father, who is also a physician, he knew he wanted to be in medicine. Dr. Allen attended medical school at Upstate Medical College in Syracuse, NY and went on to do his residency at C.S. Wilson Memorial hospital in Johnson City, NY. He is a certified NRP instructor, PALS Instructor, ACLS Provider, ATLS Provider, and a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Allen knew that Emergency Medicine was his calling when a year out of residency his 28 year old chief resident began to lose weight and noticed his skin yellowed. The diagnosis came back as cancer of the bile duct or gallbladder. Dr. Allen, his staff, and the resident s family were devastated. But everyone involved pulled together and with the help of complex medical technology and human caring they achieved a great outcome. It was inspiring and illustrated to everyone, what could be done if enough people cared. Dr. Allen has had many exciting experiences while working in Emergency Rooms for over 25 years. One such case was when a gentleman came into the ER having difficult breathing. The man didn't seem that sick at first, but was rapidly becoming unable to speak and then collapsed. Dr. Allen placed a tube in the man s airway, but air wasn't moving and the situation was quickly becoming critical. In desperation, he decided to try a chest tube between his ribs in case there was a collapsed lung. He couldn't decide which side might have the problem but then discovered a small scar on the left side, right where he intended to cut the hole. Within seconds of placing the hose between the ribs and re-inflating the lung the gentleman was alert and talking. Come to find out, he had had this happen before and they later joked about helping future doctors by tattooing his chest with an arrow labeling the spot "place chest tube here!" Dr. Allen enjoys the variety of cases that come through the ER and the fact that the care given makes an immediate difference to patients. He is the proud father of 3 children. He and his wife enjoy living in the rural outskirts of Pocatello, where they can revel in the outdoors. His hobbies include gardening, mountain biking, hang gliding, cross-country skiing, oil painting, and building things with his sons.