Have Thyroid Surgery With Us

The Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida

Become a Patient

The Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida

Schedule your thyroid surgery with the nation’s best, most experienced, and highest volume thyroid surgeons.

Patients with thyroid disease and thyroid cancer travel from around the globe to have thyroid surgery with the Clayman Thyroid Center team at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida. Our surgeons perform thyroid surgery exclusively and are the highest volume thyroid surgeons in the country, performing about 2,000 thyroid surgeries per year.

This page will detail everything you need to know about becoming a patient and scheduling your thyroid surgery with us.

When you are ready, fill out the 'new patient form' at the link below and we will be in touch with you shortly.

New Patient Form

Why choose the Clayman Thyroid Center for your thyroid surgery?

Unparalleled Thyroid Surgical Experience
The Clayman Thyroid Center performs more thyroid operations each week than most major U.S. universities and hospitals perform in a year. Our surgeons perform about 2,000 thyroid operations annually, with about 20% of those representing re-operations from patients not cured at another hospital. It is very well known that surgical volume and experience is directly tied to higher cancer cure rates and lower postoperative problems. Combined, our surgeons have performed more than 40,000 thyroid operations--thats a lot more than the Mayo Clinic or any other US hospital.
World-Renowned Thyroid Surgeons
We are recognized world-wide as THE place to go for thyroid surgery to get a cure without a complication. We have 4 surgeons who have performed thyroid surgery exclusively for their entire career. The team is led by Dr. Gary Clayman, the most experienced thyroid surgeon in the world, performing more than 600 thyroid operations per year for over 26 years on patients ranging from 6 months to over 100 years old. He was the Chief of Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery at MD Anderson for 17 years before founding the Clayman Thyroid Center in 2016. He and his team operate exclusively at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery. Read more about the other expert, very high volume thyroid surgeons below.
Highest Cure Rates for Thyroid Cancer
Our approach to thyroid surgery at the Clayman Thyroid Center is the “best approach” and certainly the way we would have our own thyroid operation performed. There is never a student, resident or fellow involved in your operation. We operate as a team and thus every patient has the benefit of having two of the best thyroid surgeons in their operation. Our thyroid surgeons perform only thyroid operations. They do not put tubes in kid’s ears, or remove your uncle’s gallbladder. Extreme thyroid-only specialization leads to the highest cure rates and lowest complication rates ever published for thyroid cancers and other thyroid diseases.
Lowest Complication Rates for Thyroid Surgery
We have the lowest published complication rates for thyroid operations including thyroid cancer and thyroid goiter surgery. Our very low complication rates are due to extremely high experience of surgeons who perform thyroid surgery exclusively, and through the use of the most advanced technologies. We pioneered the use of amniotic membrane on vocal cord nerves to provide stem cells and growth facters directly to the nerve which has been shown to decrease vocal cord problems by more than 50%. The use of amniotic membrane and a decreased risk of vocal cord problems is why many people chose to have surgery with us.
Customized Operation for Every Patient
Every patient has a treatment plan that is customized for them, taking into consideration every aspect of their thyroid problem, including their age, tumor size, the type of cancer (if cancer present), the presence of any lymph nodes in the neck, and even your concern about a neck scar. After a high-resolution ultrasound where your thyroid and lymph nodes are mapped, the surgeons work together to provide you with the best treatment option aimed at giving the best outcome possible. Some will require an extensive operation to cure a recurrent cancer, while others will be offered a robotic operation that leaves no neck scar at all. Your best outcome is our highest priority which can't be obtained with a one-size-fits-all approach used by low-volume surgeons.
Thyroid Surgery "Dream Team"
The four dedicated thyroid surgeons at the Clayman Thyroid Center have more experience with thyroid cancer and thyroid disease than anyone else in the country—by far. All of our surgeons are fellowship trained in endocrine surgery and have dedicated their surgical careers to one thing: diseases of the thyroid gland. All trained at the best surgical centers before coming to Tampa to work alongside Dr. Clayman. All are members of all the most important societies and have been chosen as "top doctors" and "top surgeons" consistently over the years. Our surgeons at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery have more than 10,000 5-star ratings online. Treating patients like a member of our own family is always our number 1 goal, and our promise to you.
Scarless Robotic Thyroid Surgery Option
We perform more scarless robotic thyroid operations than any hospital in the US. Our director of scarless thyroid surgery is Dr Hyun Suh who learned the technique in Korea where it was invented. This technique allows some patients to have their thyroid gland (and even some cancers) removed using incisions in the arm-pits avoiding a neck scar completely. Our customized approach to every patient allows us to recommend the best thyroid surgery option for every patient. Learn more about scarless robotic thyroid surgery.
Dedicated Endocrine Surgery Hospital
One of the most important factors that sets us apart from all other surgeons is that we operate in a hospital that was designed for thyroid surgery. The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery opened in Tampa, Florida in January 2022. This specialized hospital treats only thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal patients, meaning you will benefit from an extremely focused care team including anesthesia and nursing staff that are dedicated to curing the disease you have. A dedicated endocrine surgery hospital means you have much less chance of being exposed to contagious patients or the nasty bacteria that are often prevalent in large hospitals. This brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital features the most advanced equipment, surgical techniques and highly experienced teams caring for you every step of the way. Within 6 months of opening, the hospital has a national ranking in the top 99.5% in every metric measured.
Highest Published Thyroid Surgeons
The surgeons at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery have published over 1000 peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature, with Drs Clayman, Norman, and Carling having over 250 publications each. Dr Clayman is the author of "the" textbook of head and neck surgery that is used by surgery residents around the world. Our surgeons present regularly at the largest national and international endocrine meetings and have been executives in the biggest endocrine societies. We have learned from our extensive experience, and we publish our results and share our knowledge.
VIP Hotel with Airport and Hospital Transfer
Our patients enjoy a brand new endocrine hospital, and they also enjoy the VIP service at our 5 partner hotels, one of which is the highest rated hotel on Trip Advisor in the Tampa Bay area. Our hotel partners have worked with us for 15 years and have taken care of more than 20,000 of our patients. They will provide airport transfers for you, and your trip to and from the hospital will be in our new hospital sprinter van limo. If you stay at one of our partner hotels, you won't need a rental car at all.
Peace of Mind
One of the most common answers we get when we ask patients why they traveled so far to have thyroid surgery with us is: “peace of mind”. When faced with an operation that can have very bad complications, or faced with the need for an operation to cure a thyroid cancer, patients tell us that they have peace of mind when they decide to come here. Knowing that they will have the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the world operating on them as a team, within a brand-new specialty hospital provides a sense of calm reassurance. And they sleep well. We provide a service and a level of expertise that is not available anywhere else in the world and that is why we are so busy, and our patients have peace of mind.

What is the step-by-step process to becoming a patient?

It usually takes about 2 weeks from filling out a form to having your thyroid operation with the world’s most experienced thyroid surgery team.

Step 1: Complete New Patient Form

Step 2: Medical Records

Step 3: Connect With Patient Care Coordinator

Step 4: Consult With a Surgeon

Step 5: Schedule Your Thyroid Surgery

What will thyroid surgery cost me?

There are two primary fee categories to consider which are detailed below

1) A Consultation With an Expert Surgeon

2) The Thyroid Operation Itself

Thyroid Surgery FAQs

Do you take my insurance?
We take all major insurance plans and most minor insurance plans. We are preferred providers for the Blues, United, Cigna, Aetna, and dozens of others. We work with insurance companies from other states every day. We take Medicare and perform more than 10 times more Medicare operations than any other hospital*. Medicare will pay for all consults and the operation. Our insurance specialists will tell you prior to your operation how much your deductibles are and any other potential costs.
What are your cure rates for thyroid cancer?
Although we specialize in all forms of thyroid surgery, we perform more thyroid cancer surgery than any other surgeons in the US (and probably the world). Because of the techniques we use at all stages of your care (from the ultrasound and lymph node mapping to the operation performed) we have the highest cure rates ever published in the medical literature (footnote). Our goal is to cure you with your first operation and provide you with the peace of mind that you can’t get at other institutions. This is why we don’t have residents and students helping with your cancer—because we wouldn’t want them doing our thyroid cancer operation either.
Do you perform surgery for thyroid goiters?
Yes! In fact, one of our surgeons, Dr Rashmi Roy has a world-wide reputation as the best thyroid goiter surgeon. She has her own YouTube channel “Goiter Guru” that shows many of her cases—some are amazing! People travel from all over the globe to have Dr Roy remove their goiter—often when other surgeons have told the patient that it can’t be done, or that they need to split their chest open to get it out. This just isn’t true and Dr Roy is famous for her expertise.
Will I need a rental car in Tampa?
If you stay at one of our partner hotels, you will not need a rental car. They will provide transportation to and from the airport, and they will take you to the hospital and pick you up in the very nice “Hospital for Endocrine Surgery Sprinter Van”. The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is only 4 miles from the Tampa International Airport and the hotels are adjacent to the airport too. Our hotels are the highest rated in Tampa Bay on Trip Advisor. Stay in our partner hotels and don’t worry about a rental car.
What type of anesthesia is used?
We use general anesthesia, but because our anesthesia team has been with us for many years, we use very quick acting anesthesia drugs that are very well tolerated. This has significant benefits because it is short acting allowing many patients with smaller operations (like one side of the thyroid) to go home within a few hours of surgery.
How quickly can you get me in for surgery?
We perform about 45 thyroid operations every week, Monday through Wednesday and some Thursdays, so getting you on our schedule is easy—the slow part is almost always getting your records to us. Our goal is to provide every patient with a consultation within 48 hours of all of their medical records being received at our office. The biggest delay is almost always getting your records—so help us out and we can get you in the operating room within a week or two.
How long will I be in the hospital?
About 75% of our thyroid patients spend the night in the hospital. Many patients who have only half of their thyroid removed will leave a few hours after the operation. Patients who are having a larger cancer operation or removal of a goiter typically spend one night in the hospital, going home the next morning.
I have recurrent thyroid cancer
Dr Clayman is the highest-volume thyroid surgeon in the world for patients who need a second (or third) operation for thyroid cancer that has come back. This was his specialty at MD Anderson for 17 years and his reputation dictates that more than half of the operations he performs every day are on people who had a previous thyroid cancer operation somewhere else previously. We are experts at this and people travel from around the world to have their second or third thyroid cancer operation with us. Our goal is still to provide you with a cure--and we usually do!
What is Robotic Scarless Thyroid Surgery?
Robotic thyroid surgery is a brand-new way to remove the thyroid using the Davinci Operating Robot. The incisions are in the arm-pits and thus there is no scar in the neck at all. We perform more robotic scarless thyroid operations than any hospital in the US. All of our patients have a customized surgical treatment plan made specifically for them, thus if robotic scarless surgery is an option for you we will tell you all about it. You can learn more on this page.
Can I travel alone?
Yes, you can come have thyroid surgery with us by yourself. Most people travel with a family member or a friend—and they can be with you for most of the pre- op and post-op time. But yes, we have taken care of many people who have come for surgery by themselves. We understand how to do this and will take great care of you.
Can my family stay at the hospital while I am in surgery?
Yes! The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery does not have a medical ward so there are no COVID patients. Your family is welcome to come and can be with you before and after the operation. The cafeteria is open to them for free food and we even have private offices for them to work if they need quiet.
Who will be my surgeon?
We have the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the world, and every thyroid operation has at least 2 surgeons participating and agreeing on the findings prior to your operation being completed. You will typically (but not always) be operated on by the surgeon who you consulted with you, but he or she will always have another surgeon with them. We have found that working in teams provides the best cure rates and the lowest chance of a poor outcome--which is why you will have more than one surgeon. You will meet your surgeon team the morning of surgery and have plenty of time to ask questions.
Where should I stay near the hospital?
We have 5 partner hotels that have taken care of more than 10,000 of our patients. They are adjacent to the airport and these hotels will provide all the transportation you need. You don’t need a rental car if you stay in one of our partner hotels. The newest Trip Advisor (2022) has our hotels rated the number 1 hotel in Tampa Bay out of 293 rated hotels.
When can I go home after thyroid surgery?
About 25% of our patients leave the hospital after their thyroid surgery but they should stay in town for another day. About 75% have a more extensive operation and they will spend one night in the hospital, leaving in the morning. These patients are often invited to spend one more day in Tampa, but this is all dependent on the patient and their situation. We encourage patients not to travel until at least 48 hours following their thyroid operation. Our team will communicate with you about your specific needs. Your safety is our highest concerns. Our surgeons have performed well over 70,000 endocrine operations and have the experience to keep you safe.
Do I need a referral to schedule my surgeon consult?
You do not need a referral to schedule a consult with us. Medicare does not require any referral. We are in-network for all major insurers. If you have an HMO, you will need a referral for surgery. Our office will help you figure this out.
Will I have surgery residents and fellows operating on me?
No. Although many universities have medical students, residents and fellows learning how to perform thyroid surgery, we don't do that. Here, we treat our patients just like we want treated -- and that means you get expert surgeons only, not somebody learning how to perform thyroid surgery. All our patients have at least 2 of the most experienced surgeons in the world in your operation agreeing on the findings--not one surgeon, and zero residents or fellows.
What if I also have a parathyroid problem?
At the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery we also have the world’s highest volume parathyroid surgeons from the Norman Parathyroid Center. We work with them daily and consult with them on all thyroid patients who may have high calcium or other concerns about a bad parathyroid gland or hyperparathyroidism.
Do you operate at Tampa General Hospital anymore?
No, not at all. Although Tampa General Hospital continues to advertise the reputation we built there for 25 years, don't be confused -- we do not operate at TGH anymore. We left and took the entire "Thyroid and Parathyroid Institute" with us in 2019 and moved the best operating room staff and the top 13 surgeons to the brand-new Hospital for Endocrine Surgery which is closer to the Tampa airport. Moving our Thyroid and Parathyroid Institute to the brand-new Hospital for Endocrine Surgery was great for us, and for you!
More about doctor Rashmi Roy, MD, FACS
Dr. Rashmi Roy is unquestionably one of the most experienced thyroid surgeons in the US. She performs more thyroid surgery and thyroid cancer operations than any other surgeon in the country. She was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She attended The Johns Hopkins University and then 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 and then an endocrine surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins. She was chief of endocrine surgery at Princeton before being recruited to join our team in 2018. Her expertise is thyroid cancer and goiters, and is the world’s highest volume goiter surgeon. See her YouTube channel Goiter Guru.
More about doctor Nate Walsh, MD, FACS
Dr. Nate Walsh has a passion for cutting edge thyroid surgery and is an exquisitely talented and experienced thyroid surgeon and is highly sought to provide excellence in thyroid surgical care for patients. He is the third highest volume thyroid surgeon in the US, trailing only Dr Clayman and Roy. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, did his surgery training and endocrine surgery training at the Medical College of Georgia before being recruited to join our team in Tampa. He is a remarkable surgeon with a remarkable bedside manner.
More about Hyun Suh, MD, FACS
Dr. Hyun Suh is one of the most experienced endocrine surgeons in the world and the highest volume robotic thyroid surgeon in the US (by far!). Prior to joining the Clayman Thyroid Center team in Tampa, he was the Director of Endocrine Surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System in NYC. Dr. Suh is tremendously gifted in the operating room and is the Founder and Chief Surgeon of the Scarless Thyroid Surgery Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery.

Ready to schedule your consultation with one of our thyroid surgeons?

The first step in the process of becoming a patient is filling out your new patient form. When the form is completed, you will get an email from your patient coordinator within 1-2 business days to set up your second opinion consultation. During this consultation, which can be over the phone or in-person at our Tampa office, you and your surgeon will discuss the details of your case.

Step One: New Patient Form

Have a Question?

We know that there is a lot of information on the site and it can be hard to take it all in. If you have a question for our surgeons or for our office, please contact us using this form and we'd be happy to help.

Have Thyroid Surgery With Us

The Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida

Become a Patient

The Clayman Thyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida

Schedule your thyroid surgery with the nation’s best, most experienced, and highest volume thyroid surgeons.

Why choose the Clayman Thyroid Center for your thyroid surgery?

What is the step-by-step process to becoming a patient?

Step 1: Complete New Patient Form

Step 2: Medical Records

Step 3: Connect With Patient Care Coordinator

Step 4: Consult With a Surgeon

Step 5: Schedule Your Thyroid Surgery

What will thyroid surgery cost me?

1) A Consultation With an Expert Surgeon

2) The Thyroid Operation Itself

Thyroid Surgery FAQs

Ready to schedule your consultation with one of our thyroid surgeons?

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