Kepal N. Patel, MD

My pursuit of medicine evolved naturally from my love of the sciences and my desire to be around people and help them. Simply put, being a doctor is the only thing I ever wanted to do. I chose to specialize in surgery because it has a direct and immediate impact on peoples’ lives. I was drawn to endocrine and head and neck cancer surgery due to the complexity and challenges associated with these conditions.

Most frequently, I perform surgery to manage conditions of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. At Perlmutter Cancer Center, we’ve built a streamlined diagnosis and treatment process. In a single day, we can complete the necessary imaging studies, sonograms, and biopsies, and schedule a surgery date, if needed. This means that patients will learn at their initial appointments whether their tumors are benign or malignant and if they need surgery. Having access to a one-stop shop provides our patients with the support of an entire team at a single location.

When I joined NYU Langone, I initiated interdisciplinary meetings among oncologists, surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, and pathologists to discuss treatment options for patients who have complex thyroid tumors. Using our varied expertise and perspectives, we can develop an appropriate multidisciplinary plan of care that maximally benefits our patients.

I understand that every person who comes to see me has different needs, wants, and expectations. A widespread belief is that if someone has thyroid cancer, his or her thyroid must be removed. Our doctors believe in managing each tumor differently, which can involve removing only a portion of the thyroid or not operating at all.

My research interests involve studying Hashimoto’s disease and its link to developing thyroid cancer. I am the co-chair of the surgical affairs committee for the American Thyroid Association, secretary of the New York Head and Neck Society, and research chair of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons.