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William Mustain Institution-verified

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Associate Professor

Last refreshed 2026-04-01

faculty

Surgery, College of Medicine

18 h-index 77 pubs 1,401 cited

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Biography and Research Information

OverviewAI-generated summary

William Mustain's research focuses on surgical outcomes and gastrointestinal diseases, with a particular emphasis on conditions affecting the colon and rectum. He has investigated functional outcomes following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, a surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. His work has also explored predictors of poor bowel function after this procedure, utilizing data from the United States Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis (TULIP) Study. Additionally, Dr. Mustain has examined reconstructive techniques for rectovaginal fistulas, such as gracilis flap reconstruction after stapled hemorrhoidopexy.

His laboratory research has delved into the molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer metastasis, specifically investigating the role of fatty acid synthase inhibition. This work aims to understand how inhibiting fatty acid synthase affects CD44-associated signaling and reduces cancer spread. Dr. Mustain also has an interest in surgical education, having studied surgical residents' perceptions of multi-specialty learning environments. His scholarship metrics include an h-index of 18, 77 total publications, and 1,401 total citations.

Research Overview

Dr. W. Conan Mustain is a native of Jackson, MS. He attended Florida State University, where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society and graduated Magna Cum Laude. After earning his medical degree at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dr. Mustain completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, where he served as Administrative Chief Resident. During residency he spent 2 years as a surgical research fellow in the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center conducting basic science research in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. After residency he completed fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center-Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Mustain is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Mustain is board-certified in general surgery and board-eligible in colon and rectal surgery. He specializes in the treatment of diseases of the colon and rectum including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse, and benign anorectal conditions. His special interests include laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery, complex anorectal disease, and sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer. He is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching and research and has presented his work at several national and regional meetings. Dr. Mustain lives in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Little Rock with his wife and two young boys. He sees patients in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

Metrics

  • h-index: 18
  • Publications: 77
  • Citations: 1,401

Selected Publications

  • Improvement in Functional Outcomes Following Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis: Results from the United States Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis Study (2025)
    1 citation DOI OpenAlex
  • Surgical Residents’ Perception of Multi-Specialty Learning (2022)
    1 citation DOI OpenAlex

Grants & Funding

  • No FP attached Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America - Pass Through: Cedars Sinai Medical Center Principal Investigator
  • No FP attached Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America - Pass Through: Cedars Sinai Medical Center Principal Investigator

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