About Our Surgeons

Gary Clayman, MD, FACS, FACE

Dr. Gary Clayman is one of the most experienced thyroid surgeons and arguably the most experienced thyroid cancer surgeon in the world. Dr. Clayman is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Head and Neck Society. For the past 30 years, Dr. Clayman was the leading head and neck thyroid surgeon at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where he served as the Distinguished Chair of Head and Neck Surgery and the Chief of Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery since 2003. Dr. Clayman has limited his practice to thyroid and thyroid cancer surgery for more than 26 years.

Dr. Clayman has performed more than six hundred thyroid cancer operations per year for over twenty-six years among patients ranging from 6 months to 100+ years of age. Nearly half of Dr. Clayman’s patients have undergone failed initial surgery for their thyroid cancer by another surgeon or have recurrent, persistent, or aggressive thyroid cancer. Over the past four years, Dr. Clayman has performed over 800 thyroid operations per year. If it pertains to thyroid surgery or thyroid cancer, there is likely nothing that he hasn’t seen. Dr. Clayman has also written the Atlas of Head and Neck Surgery which is used by residents and fellows across the globe in their endocrine surgery training. What patients say about their surgeons is also important. See our reviews and 5 star ratings on Healthgrades as well as our many reviews on Google. Dr. Clayman and our surgeons at the Clayman Thyroid Center are very high volume surgeons. All that we do is thyroid surgery at a level of safety and quality that is without competitors. Many describe "high volume surgeons" as more than 100 operations per year. Although we care for our patients so that they feel like they are our only patients, Dr. Clayman cares for more than this "high volume" classification in almost every month, not in one year. Volume in thyroid surgery predicts lack of complications in thyroid surgery and cure of thyroid cancer, not achieved by lower volume surgeons. To our knowledge, no other thyroid surgeons in the United States have similar experience.

Dr. Clayman left the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in the fall of 2016 to form the Clayman Thyroid Center in Tampa, Florida. Dr Clayman now serves as the Director of Thyroid Institute at The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery where the Clayman Thyroid Center and Scarless Thyroid Center are both found. The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery also includes the Norman Parathyroid Center -- the world's number one center for parathyroid surgery, and The Carling Adrenal Center, the world's number one center for adrenal surgery. Dr Clayman has helped establish the first interdisciplinary institute dedicated solely to the evaluation and surgical management of thyroid cancer and thyroid diseases.

Dr Clayman is a member of more than 22 prestigious medical societies including the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Thyroid Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Association of Endocrine Surgeons, American Association for Cancer Research, American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, and the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Clayman has received some 35 honors and awards over his career. He has been named to America’s Top Doctors for 19 consecutive years and Best Doctors in America for 18 consecutive years. For his entire career, he has been extensively funded through the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Health (NIH) in his pursuit of a greater understanding of the genetic events that regulate thyroid cancers. He has 5 current patents and has published more than 217 peer reviewed publications. He has published 35 books chapters and books. His book, The Atlas of Head and Neck Surgery, published in 2011, is considered the standard in training of resident and fellows in head and neck endocrine surgery. Dr. Clayman serves on the editorial board of 8 scholarly journals. A full copy of Dr Clayman's curriculum vitae (resume) is available here.

Dr. Clayman has lectured nationally and internationally on the topic of surgical management of thyroid cancer from minimally invasive to aggressive thyroid cancer and the evaluation and management of recurrent or persistent thyroid cancer. He has been invited to speak at the American College of Surgeons, American Thyroid Association, American Head and Neck Society, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists on many occasions. He developed and maintained the course in Current Concepts in Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease since 2003 which is attended nationally by surgeons and endocrinologists, alike. Dr. Clayman has never had a malpractice claim in his entire career. Dr. Clayman is married to his wife, Miky and has three incredible children ages 25, 19, and 10.

Rashmi Roy, MD, FACS

Dr. Rashmi Roy is unquestionably one of the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the U. S. performing more thyroid surgery and thyroid cancer operations than any other surgeons in the country. As in all of our surgeons, Dr. Roy only performs thyroid surgery with the highest cure rates and lowest complication rates. She was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She attended The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD where she graduated with honors in 2001. Dr. Roy then returned to New York, where she received her medical degree from New York Medical College in 2005. She went on to complete a 5-year residency in General Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia University Medical Center.

During her residency, Dr. Roy became extremely interested in thyroid surgery and very involved with clinical research in the field of thyroid cancer. After completing her general surgical residency, she returned to The Johns Hopkins Hospital for a 1-year fellowship in Endocrine Surgery. Dr. Roy published her ongoing research on thyroid cancer in surgical journals, presented her work at national meetings, and authored several chapters in the field of Endocrine Surgery. Dr. Roy was named Tampa Bay's Business Woman of the year in 2023. Her efforts in establishing the role and utility of thyroid screening in asymptomatic women in the United States is ground breaking. This work is being presented and published in upcoming medical literature.

Since 2011, Dr. Roy lead the thyroid surgery program at Penn Medicine – Princeton Medical Center in Princeton, NJ. She had a thriving, very high volume thyroid surgery practice where she provided the highest level of care to her patients. She also served as an Assistant Professor in Surgery at the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Roy served as the Chair of the Cancer Committee at the Princeton Medical Center.

Dr. Roy’s passion and expertise are in the pathophysiology and surgical techniques of the thyroid. After 7 years of practice, she decided to join The Clayman Thyroid Surgery and Thyroid Cancer Center to help provide the highest caliber care to patients in need of thyroid surgery. Dr. Roy is recognized as one of the most accomplished thyroid surgeons in the world.

Dr. Roy is a board-certified surgeon by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). She is a very active member of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES). Dr. Roy and her husband, Clint have a child born in January 2018.

Nate Walsh, MD, FACS

Dr. Nate Walsh, a native of Tampa, FL, is an esteemed thyroid surgeon who has dedicated his career to advancing surgical care for thyroid disorders. Dr. Walsh completed his ungraduated degree at the University of Florida and went on to the University of South Florida College of Medicine to obtain his medical degree.

Driven by his passion for surgery, Dr. Walsh pursued training in General Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University Medical Center. During his residency, he developed a keen interest in Endocrine Surgery, particularly thyroid surgery, which led him to focus his training on this specialized field. Following his residency, Dr. Walsh completed a prestigious, accredited one- year Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery fellowship at the same institution.

Throughout his career, Dr. Walsh has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the field of thyroid surgery through his research, publications, and presentations at regional and national meetings. He is a recognized expert in his field, having authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Walsh's dedication to excellence extends beyond the operating room; he also serves as a reviewer for esteemed journals such as Head & Neck and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Walsh's expertise in thyroid surgery has garnered him national recognition, leading him to join the renowned Clayman Thyroid Center to exclusively pursue his passion for cutting-edge thyroid surgery. As a Senior Surgeon at the center, Dr. Walsh provides the most advanced and modern treatments for thyroid disease, delivering excellence in surgical care to his patients.

Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Walsh is recognized for his exceptional skill and experience in thyroid surgery. He also operates a YouTube Channel with the goal of educating the public on thyroid nodules.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Walsh finds joy in spending time with his wife, Alyson, and their three children. He enjoys an active lifestyle, engaging in various sports activities like running, weightlifting, golf, fishing, snow and water skiing, basketball, and soccer.

Eyas Alkhalili, MD, MBBS, FACS

Eyas Alkhalili, MBBS, FACS, is a distinguished Thyroid Surgeon at the Clayman Thyroid Center & Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, FL. Dr. Alkhalili attended advanced training in Korea to master robotic thyroid surgery techniques, allowing him to perform procedures that leave no visible neck scar.

Born in Amman, Jordan, Dr. Alkhalili pursued his medical education at the University of Jordan School of Medicine, where he earned his M.B.B.S degree in 2008. His dedication to excellence led him to complete a Visiting Medical Student Clerkship at Yale University Hospital, broadening his clinical experience and knowledge.

After his medical education, Dr. Alkhalili embarked on a remarkable journey of professional growth and academic achievement. Most recently, he served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, TX. During this time, he also practiced as an Endocrine Surgeon, specializing in thyroid operations, and contributing to the advancement of surgical education and research.

Prior to his tenure at Texas Tech University, Dr. Alkhalili completed a rigorous Endocrine Surgery Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, following his residency in General Surgery at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Dr. Alkhalili's commitment to surgical excellence is underscored by his board certification by the American Board of Surgery.

Throughout his career, Dr. Alkhalili has been deeply involved in medical education and research, holding various teaching positions, and contributing to numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations. His passion for mentoring and educating the next generation of surgeons is evident in his roles as a mentor for medical students and residents, as well as his participation in teaching activities and lectureships.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Alkhalili is known for his compassionate approach to patient care and his active involvement in professional societies and community service. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Spanish, he is committed to providing high-quality, culturally sensitive care to a diverse patient population. Dr. Alkhalili's multifaceted background, coupled with his unwavering dedication to excellence in surgery and patient advocacy, make him a valued member of the medical community and a trusted healthcare provider for those seeking specialized thyroid care.

Dr. Alkhalili is a dedicated husband and father. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with his family and friends.

Joshua Ziehm, DO

Joshua Ziehm, DO is a highly skilled thyroid surgeon at the Clayman Thyroid Center. Dr. Ziehm completed a prestigious accredited Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery Fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. His comprehensive training encompassed thyroid, parathyroid, neck dissection, adrenal, and robotic surgery. Dr. Ziehm's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Missouri State University, followed by a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University.

During his General Surgery residencies at Easton Hospital and St. Luke’s University Hospital, Dr. Ziehm further honed his surgical skills and built a solid foundation. There he showed his passion for mentoring and has been recognized for his contributions to resident education, earning the Surgery Resident of the Year award in 2019.

Dr. Ziehm’s dedication to surgical excellence is exemplified by his board certification from the American Board of Surgery. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications, presenting research on topics ranging from colorectal cancer to innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques. While attending medical school, he completed a research fellowship at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Ziehm enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, hiking, working out, and golfing. He is an avid fan of Kansas City sports teams, particularly the Chiefs and Royals.

Thyroid Surgery - The best approach

This team approach of two highly experience thyroid surgeons in every operation is a tremendous patient benefit. Our least experienced thyroid surgeon in any operation has performed at least three thousand thyroid operations. In thyroid surgery, experience means everything. Your least experienced thyroid surgeon in your operation in our Center, is still one of the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the world!

It is estimated that nearly 250,000 patients per year undergo some type of thyroid operation annually in the United States. Unfortunately, almost 90% of these operations are performed by surgeons that perform 10 or less thyroid surgery operations per year. This is a truly terrifying statistic. The critical nerves of the voice box that control sensation and movement of the vocal cords must be identified and preserved in every thyroid operation. In addition, the parathyroid glands that control calcium in the body, must also be identified and spared. Although many different surgeons have been “trained” in thyroid surgery, volume of experience is everything. Never consider any thyroid surgery a “simple” or “easy” surgery. The concept that a thyroid operation is a “minor” surgery is erroneous. Thyroid surgery is most frequently small and minimally invasive, but that does not mean it is minor.

Thyroid surgery is an art form! All of the critical structures identified and spared in thyroid operations include the jugular vein, carotid artery, recurrent laryngeal nerve, external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, and the upper and lower parathyroid glands.

Editors note: Patients have to ask the right questions and be their own best advocate. Nearly 50% of patients with thyroid cancer will never know they have a thyroid cancer until they have undergone their first thyroid operation (and often times the wrong operation). Meaning, many patients undergoing thyroid surgery for presumed benign disease, in fact have thyroid cancer but don't know it until they receive their pathology report from their first operation and that is the first time they see the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Even more pointing, Hundahl et al. published in Cancer, 1998, 11% of patients with known thyroid cancer continued to have thyroid cancer found in their neck following their initial thyroid cancer operation. Choose your surgeon carefully. You only want to have one thyroid surgery operation. Follow the following link to learn more about questions to ask your surgeon. Questions to ask your surgeon.