At the Forefront of Thyroid, Parathyroid & Adrenal Tumor Research

Our history, mission, and leadership reflect one commitment: improving outcomes for patients everywhere.

Our Story

The Endocrine Tumor Research Foundation began as the Thyroid Cancer Foundation, created to advance knowledge and improve care. As our work grew, it became clear the same innovation that transformed thyroid cancer care should be applied to all endocrine tumors. In 2025, we broadened our mission and name to reflect that commitment. Today, we support groundbreaking research in thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors—driving discoveries that change outcomes worldwide.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to advancing research that improves patient care and accelerates the discovery of cures for endocrine tumors. With unmatched surgical experience and research volume, our team translates patient care into innovation faster than anyone else in the world. From pioneering minimally invasive techniques to exploring genomics, epigenetics, and international collaborations, we are shaping the future of endocrine surgery and medicine—for the good of all patients.

Our Commitment as a Nonprofit

The Endocrine Tumor Research Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible and directly support patient-focused research, free community screenings, and groundbreaking studies that improve outcomes for endocrine tumor patients worldwide. We are committed to transparency and impact—every gift helps us accelerate discoveries and bring hope to patients and families.

Our Leadership

The foundation is led by internationally recognized experts in endocrine surgery and research. Collectively, our surgeons and scientists have performed tens of thousands of operations and published hundreds of peer-reviewed studies that have redefined best practices in the field.

  • Tobias Carling, MD, PhD, FACS – Adrenal Surgery & Research

  • Jim Norman, MD, FACS – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Gary Clayman, MD, FACS – Thyroid Surgery & Research

  • Rashmi Roy, MD, FACS – Thyroid Surgery & Research

  • Nate Walsh, MD – Thyroid Surgery & Research

  • Eyas Alkhalili, MD – Thyroid Surgery & Research; Robotic Thyroid Surgery

  • Josh Ziehm, MD - Thyroid Surgery & Research; Robotic Thyroid Surgery

  • Jamie Mitchell, MD, FACS – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Kevin Parrack, MD – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Daniel Duan, MD – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Drew Rhodes, MD – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Luke Watkins, MD – Parathyroid Surgery & Research

  • Fabio Faucz, PhD – Genomics, Epigenetics & Endocrine Tumor Biology

  • Constantine Stratakis, MD, D(Med)Sci – Endocrine Genetics & Translational Research

This leadership team brings together unmatched clinical volume and scientific expertise, positioning the foundation as the global leader in endocrine tumor research.

Our Clinical Foundation

Our research is powered by the world’s highest-volume endocrine surgery practices, all based at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery in Tampa, Florida:

  • Norman Parathyroid Center – The world’s leading center for parathyroid surgery, performing nearly 4,000 operations each year and setting global standards in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism.

  • Clayman Thyroid Center – Dedicated exclusively to thyroid surgery, this center performs over 2,000 operations each year and is a leader in thyroid cancer care.

  • Carling Adrenal Center – The highest-volume adrenal surgery practice in the world, pioneering minimally invasive and function-preserving techniques for adrenal tumors.

Together, these centers treat more endocrine tumor patients than anywhere else in the world. This unmatched experience fuels the research, innovation, and breakthroughs that drive our foundation.

The Hospital For Endocrine Surgery & Research Intitute

The Endocrine Tumor Research Foundation is powered by the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery, the only hospital in the world dedicated solely to thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors. Home to the Norman Parathyroid Center, Clayman Thyroid Center, and Carling Adrenal Center, the hospital brings together unmatched surgical expertise and the highest patient volumes anywhere.

This extraordinary clinical experience is what fuels the Endocrine Research Institute—where patient care, research, and innovation come together under one roof. Insights from tens of thousands of operations, combined with state-of-the-art genomic and clinical research, allow us to move discoveries from the operating room to the lab and back to the patient faster than anywhere else in the world.

The Endocrine Tumor Research Foundation extends this mission even further—connecting our hospital, research institute, and global collaborators to accelerate breakthroughs and improve outcomes for endocrine tumor patients everywhere.