I Need an… Endocrine Surgeon

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Our "I need a" series is a helpful guide to finding the care you need when you don’t know where to start. Today, we’re learning how to find an endocrine surgeon.

If you’re considering having endocrine surgery—whether it’s to address thyroid cancer, adrenal gland tumors, overactive glands, or other endocrine-related issues—choosing your surgeon is a big decision. So, before you start your search, let’s answer some helpful questions.

What Does an Endocrine Surgeon Do?

Most surgeons focus on certain areas of the body or treating specific diseases. Your endocrine system controls a number of essential functions in your body, so endocrine surgeons focus on procedures for these glands and organs, including:

Thyroid gland
Parathyroid glands
Adrenal glands
Gastrointestinal tract
Pancreas*

The pancreas is a particularly complex organ that requires additional surgical specialization.

There are different types of surgeons that may perform endocrine procedures. The right surgeon for you will depend on your specific issue.

General Surgeons: All general surgeons become familiar with treating endocrine conditions as part of their training and certification. Because endocrine surgery is a relatively new area of expertise, many endocrine surgeries are performed by general surgeons.
Surgical Oncologists: These are doctors trained as general surgeons who then receive additional training as cancer specialists. Some surgical oncologists focus entirely on endocrine cancers, but for others, the majority of their practice may come from treating cancers elsewhere in the body.
Endocrine Surgeons: These surgeons have completed general surgery training, then take on additional training through fellowship programs that focus purely on endocrine procedures. True endocrine surgeons dedicate their entire practice to treating thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal conditions, including both cancerous and non-cancerous disease.
Otolaryngology (Ear, Neck, and Throat, or ENT) Surgeons: These specialists are focused on conditions located in the ear, nose, and throat, so they may perform procedures to correct thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Do Endocrinologists Perform Surgery?

Endocrinologists are doctors that diagnose, treat, and manage conditions related to the endocrine system. They are medical doctors but are not trained to perform surgery. Endocrinologists often work closely with endocrine surgeons to address these conditions.

What Credentials Should I Look For?

It can be hard to find a surgeon by looking at credentials alone, but it’s a helpful place to start. Knowing that a surgeon has completed additional training or has been certified by a professional board is a good sign that they have the expertise you are looking for.

Residency — All endocrine surgeons will have completed a surgical residency, meaning that after medical school, they trained for years under the supervision of seasoned physicians.
Fellowship — Fellowship is additional, focused training after residency. A fellowship-trained endocrine surgeon has completed a specialized training program under the supervision of an experienced endocrine surgeon.
Board Certified — This voluntary process demonstrates that a surgeon has met rigorous standards set by their peers through a governing organization, or board. These boards are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association.
- Not all specialties have a board certification. For example, all general surgeons must demonstrate knowledge and expertise regarding the endocrine system to become board-certified. But there is no board certification for endocrine surgery.
Professional Societies and Organizations — Membership groups like the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) indicate that an endocrine surgeon is active in their specialty’s clinical and research communities.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) offers a helpful Find a Surgeon tool that lets you search by endocrine surgery as a subspecialty. The ACS is the world's largest organization of surgeons, and their comprehensive member database of board-certified surgeons is a great place to start looking.

The AAES also has a helpful database that lets you search by gland to find surgeons with a specific area of expertise that matches your needs.

What Else is Important to Look For?

If you’re looking for endocrine cancer treatment, you might want to focus on designated cancer centers and academic medical centers. Research has shown that working with a surgeon at a cancer center that can offer comprehensive and coordinated care yields the best results. These multidisciplinary groups are more likely to be active in clinical trials, so you may have access to treatment options that aren’t available to the general public yet.

Practice Makes Perfect

For all types of endocrine surgery, research has shown that the more a surgeon performs a specific operation, the better their outcomes. An endocrine surgeon should do more than 50 parathyroid and thyroid operations a year to be considered an expert, and that number should be sustained over time. For example, the endocrine surgeons at Columbia have each performed thousands of thyroid and parathyroid operations in their careers.

A Word About Top Doctor Awards

When searching for a doctor of any kind, you’ll probably come across advertisements for sites boasting Top Doctor lists, or you may find these awards mentioned in a surgeon’s profile. While many of these awards are legitimate and are based on peer-nominated candidates and vetted feedback, not all lists are created equal. Some are essentially lists intended to promote only the doctors who have paid for the privilege. If you use a Top Doctor list in your search, make sure that’s only part of your criteria.

So I Found Some Surgeons I Feel Comfortable With… Now What?

It’s time to start making appointments. Reach out to your top choices for what’s called a surgical consultation, or consult. Skilled surgeons are in high demand, so keep in mind that sometimes it can take some time to get scheduled. When making the appointment, their care team will ask about what you’re looking for, so be ready to explain what your needs are. But don't worry: you don't need to know exactly what surgery to ask for; the surgeon will be able to explain your options when you meet them.

During My Consultation, What Should I Ask?

In a word: everything. This meeting is your chance to learn about your surgical options, but it’s also your opportunity to learn about the surgeon: their approach, their demeanor, their experience, and their understanding of your condition. No question is silly or useless if it helps you feel more confident about the procedure. Bring notes if you’re concerned about remembering complex medical terms. Here are some helpful questions to consider:

About the Surgeon
- How many surgeries have you performed on the gland I need treated? How many do you perform each year?
- Based on the procedure you would recommend for me, how many times have you performed that specific surgery?
- Do you only perform endocrine surgeries?
- Have you done an endocrine fellowship? Do you have any board certifications?
- Who is part of your care team? What specialists do you work with?
- What professional societies do you belong to?
- Are you involved in clinical trials that I might be able to participate in?
About Your Procedure
- What will my procedure involve?
- What are my risks? What complications have you seen?
- Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
- What will I feel after my surgery?
- How long after the surgery will I start to feel better?
- How much scarring will there be?
- Is a minimally invasive approach an option for me?
- How much will this procedure help me?
For Cancer Care
- Will I need chemotherapy or radiation therapy before or after the procedure?
- How will we know if all of the cancer was removed?
- How effective is this procedure? What are the chances of a recurrence?
- Do you work with an endocrinologist to monitor changes before and after the surgery to remove the cancer?

Do They Take My Insurance?

Money might not seem important when your health is at stake, but surgery can be very expensive. Avoiding another stressful element can help you focus on your health. So verify that they accept your insurance, even if their website states they do. Nothing is more frustrating than finding a surgeon who's a great fit, only to learn that your insurance won't cover the procedure. Some insurance plans also require a referral, so talk to your primary doctor about what you'll need.

Should I Get a Second Opinion?

Absolutely. Even if you think a surgeon is perfect for you, a second opinion can make you feel more confident about your decision. It can also help you become better educated about the procedure and your options. Second opinions can often be done with telehealth appointments, so they may not be as challenging to schedule.

🚩 Be wary of any surgeon that discourages you from getting a second opinion. An ethical surgeon will encourage you to get all the information you can and to consider every option.

Word of Mouth

Do you know anyone who has had the surgery performed by the surgeon you’re considering? It can be helpful to get feedback from someone who has been through the procedure and recovery process. Keep in mind that everyone’s health circumstances are unique, so their experience won’t be the same as yours. But speaking with others can help you feel better informed about the real-world results and can give you some insight into how the surgeon and their team treat their patients.

🚩 Word of mouth can also be a great way to find a surgeon that you might not have considered, especially if someone you know had a positive experience working with them. But make sure to then research the surgeon for yourself.

What Other Factors Should I Consider?

The decision to have surgery is about you and your health, so you should consider what's important to you. If you’ve reduced your options to a few surgeons who have convinced you they will provide the best care possible, practical considerations may help you make the final decision. These include:

Do you want a doctor that can perform a surgery at a hospital closer to home? Or is it worth it to travel for your procedure if it means working with a specialist?
Do you want to work with a surgeon that has a relationship with your endocrinologist, to make it easier to coordinate your care?
Is finding an in-network surgeon a priority because of your health insurance?
How urgent is your health issue? If you had to wait to schedule your surgery for an opening on a surgeon’s calendar, is it worth the wait?

Once you have settled on a surgeon who can perform the procedure you need, where you want it, and when you want it, it’s time to focus on getting ready for your procedure. That means following all instructions your surgical team gives you, especially regarding your medication.

Endocrine surgery can be a life-saving operation, and it can dramatically improve your quality of life. Choosing the right surgeon can help you look and feel like your best self.

Finding an Endocrine Surgeon at Columbia

If you would like to learn more about your surgical options, get a second opinion, or find out if working with the Endocrine Surgery team at Columbia is right for you, we’d love to hear from you. Call (212) 305-0444 or request an appointment online today.

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