Three Moffitt Surgeons Earn Specialized Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Designation

Three surgeons at Moffitt Cancer Center have earned the Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Focused Practice Designation (FPD), a recently established recognition jointly offered by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS). 

Caitlin McMullen, Kristen Otto and Deepa Danan are among the first cohort of surgeons in the country to receive the designation, which recognizes focused expertise in the surgical management of complex thyroid and parathyroid diseases.

Recognizing Expertise in Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery

The designation was developed to identify surgeons who dedicate a substantial portion of their clinical practice to advanced thyroid and parathyroid surgery, including treatment for thyroid cancer, recurrent disease, substernal goiters, advanced endocrine tumors and other highly specialized endocrine neck conditions.

Unlike a traditional subspecialty certification, the FPD highlights concentrated clinical experience and ongoing commitment within a focused area of surgical practice. Eligibility requirements include high surgical case volumes, multidisciplinary care participation, documentation of complex procedures and successful completion of a rigorous written examination.

The first designation exam was administered in 2025, with just over 200 surgeons nationwide earning the credential in the inaugural group.

Moffitt Surgeons Specialize in Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery

At Moffitt, the three surgeons specialize in head and neck-endocrine oncology and care for patients with a wide range of benign and malignant thyroid and parathyroid conditions, including advanced thyroid cancers and complex surgical cases that often require multidisciplinary coordination.

Dr. McMullen’s clinical and research interests focus on improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with head and neck cancers, including advanced thyroid cancers. Dr. Otto specializes in thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as head and neck cancer surgery and surgical education. Dr. Danan’s clinical and research work focuses on complex endocrine and head and neck cancers, including outcome optimization and advances in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

The FPD was created through collaboration between national surgical and endocrine specialty organizations, including the ABS, ABOHNS, the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the American Head and Neck Society. The designation is intended to help patients and referring physicians identify surgeons with focused expertise in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

*Reference materials and designation criteria provided by the American Board of Surgery and related organizations.