Sharon Allen, MD, PhD

Sharon Allen, MD, PhD, co-directs the University of Minnesota Medical School Essentials of Clinical Medicine course. As an NIH-funded researcher for over 25 years, she has focused on factors that contribute to smoking, specifically looking at the influence of sex hormones on smoking cessation and addictive behaviors. Her research explores novel treatments for smoking cessation, examines underlying traits that fuel nicotine addiction, combines treatments to maximize effectiveness, and recognizes sex and hormonal influences on the treatment of nicotine addiction. 

Dr. Allen sees patients at the University of Minnesota Physicians Women’s Health Specialists Clinic and Clinics and Surgery Center, where she also precepts residents in family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, and pharmacy.

Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education Selection Committee

Herz Faculty Teaching Development Award Winner

Outstanding Medical School Teacher Award in the Clinical Sciences

Association of American Medical Colleges

Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

National Osteoporosis Foundation

Minnesota medical Society

Twin Cities Medical Society

Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians

Tobacco cessation in women and sex hormones

R01DA08075 Smoking, Sex Hormones & Pregnancy, NIH/NIDA, 09/1/12 – 08/31/17, $302,632.

09/01/17 NCE and 09/01/18 NCE

SCOR Project 1 Sex Differences and Progesterone: Association with Impulsivity and Smoking Cessation, NIH 2012-2018, $72,132

SCOR Project 4 Sex Differences and Progesterone: Association with Impulsivity and Marijuana Reduction in Co-Users of Marijuana and Nicotine Cigarettes, NIH 2016-2018, $72,132

R21DA034840 Progesterone & Postpartum Relapse to Smoking, NIH/NIDA 2013-2016, $417,897

R01 Exercise or Relaxation for Smoking Cessation, NIH/NIDA 2009-2014, $1,417,835.

R01DA08075 Menstrual Phase and Depression Symptoms in Acute Smoking Abstinence, NIH/NIDA 2007-2012, $1,676,004

Administrative Supplement Cortisol Level and Menstrual Phase in Smoking Cessation, NIH/NIDA 2004-2007, $23,977

R01DA08075 Menstrual Phase Effect on Smoking Relapse, NIH/NIDA 2002-2007, $1,023,677

Allen SS, Allen AM, Lunos S, Hatsukami D. (2009). Patterns of self-selected smoking cessation attempts and relapse by menstrual phase. Addictive Behaviors, 34(11) 928-931. PMCID: PMC276637

Allen SS, Allen AM, Lunos S, Tosun N. (2016). Progesterone and postpartum smoking relapse: a pilot double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 18(11) 2145-2153. PMCID: PMC5055745

Allen A, Tosun N, Carlson S, Allen SS. (2017) Postpartum Changes in Mood and Smoking-Related Symptomatology: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Investigation. Nicotine Tob Res. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 28575412.

Harrison K, Noyes N, Carlson S, Tosun N, Allen SS. (2018). Sex differences in self-reported exercise during attempted smoking cessation. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Allen SS, Allen AM, Tosun N, Lunos S, al’Absi M, Hatsukami D. (2014). Smoking- and menstrual-related symptomatology during short-term smoking abstinence by menstrual phase and depressive symptoms. Addictive Behaviors, 39(5) 901-906. PMCID: PMC4010248

Lawless MH, Harrison KA, Grandits GA, Eberly LE, Allen SS. (2015). Perceived stress and smoking-related behaviors and symptomatology in male and female smokers. Addictive Behaviors, 51:80-83. PMCID: PMC4558262

Tosun N, Fieberg A, Eberly L, Harrison K, Tipp A, Allen AM, Allen SS. (2018). Exogenous progesterone for smoking cessation in men and women: A double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Barnett A, Tosun N, Fieberg A, Eberly L, Harrison K, Allen SS. (2018). Sex hormones and impulsivity in female co-users of tobacco and marijuana. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Harrison K, Farnsworth L, Allen AM, Allen SS, Oncken C. (2012) Predictors of enrollment of older women in smoking cessation study. Abstract presented at SRNT Annual Meeting. Helsinki, Finland.

Jarvis L, Allen AM, Allen SS, Oncken C. (2013) A history of major depressive disorder in current postmenopausal smokers and the association with body composition and other maladaptive behaviors. Abstract presented at the Women’s Health Research Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

Teo A, Harrison K, Allen AM, Allen SS, Oncken C. (2013) Impact of exercise on food cravings in postmenopausal women during smoking cessation. Abstract presented at the Women’s Health Research Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

Oncken C, Litt M, Allen SS, Kenny A, Lando H. (2017) Exercise for smoking cessation in postmenopausal women. Abstract presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 23rd Annual Meeting. Florence, Italy.

Allen AM, McRae-Clark S, Carlson M, Saladin M, Gray K, Wetherington S, McKee S, Allen SS. (2016). Determining menstrual phase in human biobehavioral research: a review with recommendations. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(1) 1-11. PMCID: PMC4821777.

Wetherill RR, Franklin TR, Allen SS. (2016). Ovarian hormones, menstrual cycle phase, and smoking: a review with recommendations for future studies. Current Addiction Reports, 1;3(1) 1-8. PMCID: PMC4847745

Van Liew S, Harrison K, Cao Q, Allen SS. (2017) Smoking topography outcomes in women during pregnancy vs. women on oral contraceptives. Abstract presented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 23rd Annual Meeting. Florence, Italy.

Allen AM, Tosun N, Carlson S, Allen SS. (2017). Postpartum changes in mood and smoking-related symptomatology: an ecological momentary assessment investigation. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, in press, PMID: 28575412