John Bollins, DO, ACOS

Expert Publications

• Anatomy and physiology of neurons composing the commissural ring nerve of the cricket, Acheta domesticus.

Media Releases

Get to know General Surgeon Dr. John Bollins, who serves patients in Hibbing, Duluth and Ely, Minnesota.

Dr. Bollins, a top general surgeon, sees patients at his private practice, Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota. The main office is located in Hibbing, Minnesota. Dr. Bollins offers locations in Duluth and Ely as well.  He focuses on excelling both in traditional and robotic surgery, performing procedures such as inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias, lipoma and soft tissue removal, skin lesions and more.

Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota leads the region in robotic experience. Its trauma and critical care surgical experience add a wealth of knowledge and an edge to their procedures that one won’t find just anywhere. With many years of general surgery experience in emergency and elective surgery, the team brings cutting edge health care to the Iron Range, Duluth, Ely and surrounding areas. It is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its patients, and strives to exceed standards of excellence allowing them to offer the best surgical care possible. 

Back in the early days of his academic career, Dr. Bollins received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Zoology from Miami University. He then earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and completed his surgical residency at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens and Columbus, Ohio. He also completed his surgical critical care fellowship at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.

A proud member of the American Osteopathic Association, he is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS). The AOBS is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who specialize in the use of surgery to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

In his local area, Dr. Bollins spent 5 years as a trauma critical care surgeon at a regional hospital, holding the position of Pediatric Trauma Director. In addition, he spent 13 years as a general surgeon at a second regional hospital, where he was the Chief of General Surgery. After years of working as a hospital employed surgeon, he decided to start his own practice in 2020.

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland. A general surgeon performs a wide range of abdominal surgeries for many forms of intestinal and abdominal wall neoplasms, gallbladder disease, gastric and pancreatic disease. They follow the patient through critical care and surgical recovery all the way to outpatient care.

As a testament of his commitment, Dr. Bollins has been the recipient of the Specialty Medicine Award (2001) and Outstanding Fellow Award (2007).

Outside of work, he and his family enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending time at the cabin.

Recommended Articles

• Alternative Treatments for Gallstones

  Alternative Treatments For GallstonesA huge percentage of gallstones never show symptoms, but the moment a stone stops moving on its way to the small intestines from the gallbladder, trouble begins. That’s when signs start occurring, among them severe pain on the ride side of the abdomen that...

• Sleep Apnea: What Are the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment?

  Sleep apnea is a very common but serious sleeping disorder, wherein your breathing gets briefly interrupted while you sleep. Breathing might stop or become very shallow with pauses while you are sleeping. It can last from a few seconds to several minutes and usually recurs through the night. Since...

• An Appendectomy for Appendicitis

  Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a tube-like extension attached to the large intestine. The appendix has no known function, but one thing for certain is that one can live without it with no apparent consequences.Appendicitis is a life and death kind of matter and should be treated...

• Incisional Hernia: Get the Facts

  An incisional hernia arises when abdominal tissue begins to poke through a soft spot in the wall of the abdomen. This type of hernia only occurs as the result of the incision made in a prior abdominal surgery. An incisional hernia may be the result of poor healing, infection, or technical problems a...

• What to Expect if You Need a Colonoscopy

  A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure done in a private room, in which the inside of the large intestine, (colon and rectum), is examined. This procedure is normally used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as rectal and intestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel habits....

• What You Need to Know About Incisional Hernias

  What is a Hernia?A hernia is a medical condition that results from tissue or organs protruding through the abdominal walls. This protrusion is due to a weakness or hole in a muscle. The condition might start without any symptoms, but can lead to serious problems like death if left unattended. Hernia...