SMH Recruits World Leader in Thyroid/ Parathyroid Surgery

August 4, 2021 – Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has recruited Ralph P. Tufano, MD, MBA, FACS, a widely recognized leader in the management of thyroid/parathyroid disease, to oversee its first multi-specialty practice dedicated to the care and treatment of patients with thyroid nodules, cancers and other diseases and disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.Respected across the world for his research and innovative treatment of thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, benign thyroid diseases and parathyroid disease, Dr.Tufano joined Sarasota Memorial First Physicians Group in July. He comes to Sarasota from Baltimore, Maryland, where he spent the past 20 years as a professor, researcher, practicing surgeon and director of the Multi-Disciplinary Thyroid Tumor Center and division of Head and Neck Endocrine Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  

Board certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and fellowship trained in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Dr. Tufano specializes in the management of hyperparathyroidism, thyroid cancer, associated neck lymph node metastases, and advanced and invasive thyroid cancers. His pioneering work in molecular markers, improving surgical outcomes, nerve monitoring and novel treatment techniques such as such as scarless surgery and radiofrequency ablation has helped shape and personalize treatment for patients with thyroid and parathyroid diseases, and adds a critical new specialty to support the SMH team of surgical oncologists, Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, and people living on the Suncoast. 

At the new SMH First Physicians Group Thyroid and Parathyroid Center, Dr. Tufano will work collaboratively Mark A. Lupo, MD, a widely respected endocrinologist and recognized leader in the medical management of these diseases, as well as other community endocrinologists, primary care physicians and otolaryngologists, to ensure patients receive comprehensive evaluations, advanced testing, coordinated care, and if necessary, innovative surgical treatment. 

“Thyroid and parathyroid problems affect people in different ways and it often takes a multidisciplinary approach to accurately diagnose and develop the optimal treatment plan for each patient,” Dr. Tufano said. “Surgery or a directed treatment like RFA is only performed when there is value to the patient and, our goal is to be as conservative as possible and provide the best outcomes with the most effective and personalized approach available.” 

His specialties include:

• Scarless transoral thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy
• Minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of thyroid nodules
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Thyroid nodule management
• Goiter/enlarged thyroid glands
• Graves’ Disease
• Early, advanced and recurrent thyroid cancers
• Neck lymph node metastases from thyroid cancer 

Information/Appointments
The First Physicians Group Thyroid and Parathyroid Center is a referral-based center located at First Physicians Group Thyroid and Parathyroid Center, 1901 Floyd Street (3rd floor), Sarasota, FL 34239. For information, second opinions or help with a referral, please call 941-262-0500 or visit the center website atwww.smhthyroidandparathyroid.com.