Brad Allen Surgeon: Cardiothoracic Expert and Husband of Jaclyn Smith

Brad Allen is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with over four decades of experience specializing in pediatric cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and cardiothoracic vascular surgery. He gained widespread public recognition through his marriage to actress Jaclyn Smith, best known for her role in the television series “Charlie’s Angels.” Allen practiced as Surgical Director at the Children’s Heart Institute in Houston and currently serves as a visiting adjunct clinical professor of surgery at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

Early Life and Education

Born in New York City, Brad Allen developed an interest in science and medicine from an early age. His academic path began at Lafayette College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. He continued his studies at Columbia University in 1977 before enrolling at Chicago Medical School, now part of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1981.

Allen’s liberal arts foundation, combined with rigorous medical training, shaped his comprehensive approach to patient care. This educational background equipped him to excel in both clinical practice and academic research throughout his career.

Medical Training and Residency

Following medical school, Allen completed an extensive seven-year General Surgery Residency at UCLA Medical Center from 1981 to 1988. During this period, he also served as a UCLA Cardiac Research Fellow from 1983 to 1985, focusing on cardiovascular research that would inform his later work in myocardial protection.

Allen then completed a Cardiothoracic Residency at UCLA from 1988 to 1990, gaining advanced training in heart and chest surgery. He received specialized pediatric cardiac training at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children from 1990 to 1991, where he developed expertise in operating on infants and children with congenital heart defects.

This combination of general surgery training, cardiac research experience, and specialized pediatric focus positioned Allen to handle complex cases across all age groups.

Professional Career and Specialties

Allen’s primary expertise centers on cardiothoracic surgery, with particular focus on mitral valve repair and pediatric heart surgery. He served as Surgical Director at the Children’s Heart Institute in Houston, overseeing complex pediatric cardiac surgeries and contributing to the institute’s research programs.

His clinical interests include myocardial protection, which involves safeguarding the heart muscle during surgery to prevent damage and ensure optimal patient outcomes. Allen has also researched hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, examining how oxygen-deprived tissues respond when oxygen is restored—research with significant implications for cardiac procedures.

Allen has held academic positions at multiple institutions. He worked as a professor of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at the University of Texas Medical School and served as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the USC Keck School of Medicine. He currently maintains a connection with USC as a visiting adjunct clinical professor of surgery. Additionally, he served as a visiting professor of surgery at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

Current Practice

Allen maintains a medical practice at 10398 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90077. With over 44 years of experience in the medical field, he continues to provide cardiothoracic surgical consultations.

Patients can reach his practice at:

• Primary phone: 1-310-276-0004
• Alternative phone: 713-817-3600

Allen’s extensive experience covers pediatric cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and cardiothoracic vascular surgery. His specialization in pediatric cases requires unique expertise, as children’s cardiovascular anatomy and physiology differ significantly from those of adults.

Marriage to Jaclyn Smith

Brad Allen married actress Jaclyn Smith on October 11, 1997. The couple met at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where Allen performed heart surgery on Smith’s father. During her father’s hospitalization, Smith’s mother asked Allen to escort her daughter to the parking garage for safety. The two began dating and were together for approximately seven years before marrying.

Smith, who rose to fame as Kelly Garrett in the television series “Charlie’s Angels,” was previously married three times before meeting Allen. The couple has been married for over 27 years.

Allen became stepfather to Smith’s two children from her previous marriage to cinematographer Tony Richmond: son Gaston (born 1982) and daughter Spencer (born 1985). Both children are now married with families of their own. Allen embraced his role as stepfather and is now a step-grandfather to three grandchildren, who call him “Pop-Pop.”

Media Appearances and Business Ventures

Through his marriage to Jaclyn Smith, Allen has made television appearances on shows including “Home & Family,” “The Doctors,” and “Intimate Portrait.” The couple has maintained a relatively private personal life while attending charitable events and medical fundraisers together.

Allen and Smith co-founded a beauty and skincare business. Smith has credited her husband with taking their beauty line “to another level,” utilizing his medical expertise to enhance product development. The couple has traveled extensively and maintains homes in Los Angeles.

Smith has spoken publicly about how Allen supported her through her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2002. She underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy and has been cancer-free for over two decades.

Research and Publications

Allen has published over 80 scientific papers throughout his career, establishing him as a prominent medical researcher. His work appears in prestigious medical journals including The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Annals of Surgery.

His research topics include:

• Distal aortic perfusion techniques to maintain blood flow during complex aortic surgeries
• Myocardial protection strategies during cardiac procedures
• Warm glutamate/aspartate-enriched blood cardioplegic solution to minimize heart muscle damage
• Hypoxia/reoxygenation injury mechanisms and prevention
• Cerebral monitoring with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography during aortic repairs
• Resuscitation protocols after prolonged cardiac arrest

Allen’s published work has contributed to advancements in surgical techniques and improved patient safety protocols in cardiothoracic surgery.

Academic Honors and Recognition

Throughout his career, Allen has received numerous academic honors. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, a distinction reserved for medical students and physicians who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and professional achievement.

Allen won research awards at both UCLA and the University of Illinois. He received the Board of Trustees’ Academic Award from Chicago Medical School and earned the Golden Scalpel Teaching Award, recognizing his contributions to medical education.

Political Campaigns

Allen entered politics by running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 24th Congressional District in both 2014 and 2022 as a Republican candidate. He was defeated in both campaigns—in the 2014 blanket primary and the 2022 general election by incumbent Salud Carbajal.

During his campaigns, Allen focused on healthcare reform and criticized the Affordable Care Act in a Wall Street Journal editorial. His platform included support for small businesses, inflation reduction, education reform, and law enforcement funding. Allen drew on his medical experience to inform his healthcare policy proposals.

Conclusion

Brad Allen’s career demonstrates excellence across multiple dimensions of medicine. His clinical practice has directly improved patient outcomes through complex cardiac surgeries. His research contributions have advanced surgical techniques and safety protocols. His academic roles have shaped the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons.

The combination of surgical expertise, research productivity, and teaching commitment places Allen among respected figures in cardiothoracic surgery. His work in pediatric cardiac surgery has been particularly impactful, given the specialized skills required to operate on children’s hearts and the life-changing outcomes these procedures provide.

Allen’s willingness to enter public service through political campaigns, while ultimately unsuccessful, demonstrated his commitment to influencing healthcare policy at a broader level. His marriage to Jaclyn Smith has brought additional public attention to his medical career, while the couple has maintained focus on charitable work and medical fundraising efforts.

For those considering cardiothoracic surgery or seeking expertise in pediatric cardiac care, Brad Allen’s four-decade career offers a model of sustained excellence in a demanding medical specialty.