I started my own parathyroid practice in 2020 after realizing that I could not provide the level of care I wanted for patients in an existing system. Many physicians today are employed by health systems and practices that limit the time and freedom they need to provide patients with even a reasonable level of care. With my own practice, I can give each patient far more time and attention than is possible elsewhere. I have the freedom to thoroughly review each patient’s case (often catching issues that previous doctors did not have time to find), listen to patients, answer all their questions, and provide responsive follow-up care. I take great pride in ensuring that each patient receives exceptional care, personalized treatment, and appropriate follow-up - in addition to a world-class parathyroid operation!
Here are some reasons why so many patients travel to the Southwest Parathyroid Center for their operations (I encourage you to read my reviews too):
By using a Direct Visualization technique and assessment of all four parathyroid glands, I achieve parathyroid surgery cure rates of over 99%.
Less experienced surgeons perform “focused” operations. This means that they use imaging studies to locate one parathyroid gland, and then go in and remove that gland. They don’t look at the other three parathyroid glands. Unfortunately around 25% of patients will have more than one bad parathyroid gland, and thus will not be cured with the focused technique. By evaluating all four glands in one operation, I achieve the highest cure rates. It’s like anything else – if you need something done, you want it done right the first time.
I have personally performed over 5,000 parathyroid operations. Your chances of having a successful and safe operation are directly related to the experience of your surgeon. As one of the most experienced surgeons in the U.S., I have patients from all around the world come to me for their operations. I only perform parathyroid surgery – and this has been true for the last decade.
This experience means that I have seen pretty much every variation in parathyroid disease. Chances are, I have seen many cases like yours before.
I operate frequently on patients who have had unsuccessful operations elsewhere. These patients account for about 10% of the operations I do. Most patients, even those who have had failed operations in the past, can be cured.
Not all parathyroid disease is the same, and not all patients are the same. Before your operation, you need an individualized evaluation and treatment plan. I perform all consultations myself to ensure that you have the best chance for a successful outcome – not just on the day of surgery but in the months and years after. Some patients have very straightforward cases and recoveries, but others do not. Each patient receives the personalized care that is right for them.
After the operation, all patients have my cell phone number – and I encourage everyone to reach out with any issues or questions. I want to be the one managing your postoperative care, since I have the most experience with this. Your regular doctor may be amazing, but will not have as much experience managing patients after parathyroid surgery. I tell patients to come to me first with any questions about their operation or calcium. I personally review all postoperative labs and reach out to every patient with my interpretation. Even years down the road, if you have questions about your calcium, I’m happy to answer them.
When you have a consultation with me, I want to hear your whole story. Lab results tell me a lot, but they can’t tell me everything. This is especially true when your labs are “borderline” or your case is “confusing” for your doctors. Because I’ve seen so many different manifestations of parathyroid disease, your case will likely not be confusing for me. And if your case truly is borderline or unclear, I will know what to do to help us figure it out together.
There is no “lab cutoff” for becoming a patient. Parathyroid disease can act strangely – you could have high calcium levels one day and completely normal labs the next day. I want to see the whole picture before making a diagnosis.
I value integrity and uphold myself to the highest standards. I will provide the care that I would want to receive for myself and my family. When you see me, I will listen carefully to you, thoroughly evaluate your case, and offer an expert opinion. If I think you will benefit from surgery, we can schedule that, usually within a few weeks. If I do not think you will benefit from surgery, I will explain why and offer a treatment plan that I think would be best for you. If I think you would benefit from surgery but you are not ready for that, that’s ok. I will still care for you.