Valentina Tarasova, MD

Cancer Focus:
Adrenal Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodule/Mass

Dr. Valentina Tarasova is a board-certified endocrinologist at Moffitt Cancer Center specializing in thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and endocrine oncology. With more than a decade of experience in clinical care and thyroid cancer research, she is committed to delivering personalized, evidence-based care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

After completing her residency in Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Tarasova pursued fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Creighton University, followed by an Interdisciplinary Thyroid Cancer Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She also completed the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Tarasova specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of thyroid cancer, ranging from low-risk disease to advanced and metastatic cases. As a member of Moffitt’s multidisciplinary thyroid cancer team, she collaborates closely with surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists to develop individualized treatment strategies that optimize outcomes and quality of life.

Her research focuses on molecular markers, risk stratification, and precision medicine approaches for thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. In addition to her clinical and research work, Dr. Tarasova serves as Program Director of the Endocrine Oncology Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center, Site Director for the University of South Florida Endocrinology Fellowship, and Associate Professor at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.

Recognized as a leading expert in thyroid cancer and endocrine oncology, Dr. Tarasova is known for her contributions to advancing the understanding and management of thyroid disease. Named one of Tampa Bay’s Top Doctors since 2022, she combines nationally recognized expertise with a compassionate, patient-centered approach, helping patients feel informed, supported, and confident throughout every stage of their care journey.

 

Education & Training

Board Certification:

• Internal Medicine - Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Fellowship:

• Creighton University - Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Thyroid Cancer

Residency:

• Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine - Internal Medicine

Medical School:

• Kubansky State Medical University - MD

• Sanchez LP, Grullon-Polanco L, Otto KJ, McMullen C, Dogra P, Monsour E, Salgado SA, Danan D, Naqvi SM, Wenig BM, Chung CH, Veloski C, Tarasova VD. Patient Redistribution Across Risk Categories in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Using the 2025 Versus 2015 American Thyroid Association Risk Stratification Systems. Endocr Pract. 2026 Sep. Pubmedid: 42679997.
• Tarasova VD, Chung CH, Agosto Salgado S. Durable Response to Redifferentiation in a Patient With Metastatic NCOA4::RET Fusion-driven Papillary Thyroid Cancer. JCEM Case Rep. 2025 Jun.3(6):luaf054. Pubmedid: 40330117. Pmcid: PMC12050687.
• Tarasova VD, Samuel K, McMullen C, Kushchayev S, Hernandez Prera JC, Veloski C. Thyroid Paraganglioma: A Rare Manifestation of Paraganglioma Syndrome Associated With Pathogenic Variant in SDHD. JCEM Case Rep. 2024 Sep.2(9):luae135. Pubmedid: 39156002. Pmcid: PMC11327117.
• Tarasova VD, Tsai J, Masannat J, Hernandez-Prera J, Hallanger-Johnson JE, Veloski C, Agosto Salgado S, McIver B, Drusbosky L, Chung CH. Characterization of the Thyroid Cancer Genomic Landscape by Plasma-Based Circulating Tumor DNA Next-Generation Sequencing. Thyroid. 2024 Feb.34(2):197-205. Pubmedid: 37962267.
• Tasoulas J, Srivastava S, Xu X, Tarasova V, Maniakas A, Karreth FA, Amelio AL. Genetically engineered mouse models of head and neck cancers. Oncogene. 2023 Aug.42(35):2593-2609. Pubmedid: 37474617. Pmcid: PMC10457205.
• Hernandez-Prera J, Valderrabano P, Creed J, de la Iglesia JV, Slebos R, Centeno BA, Tarasova V, Hallanger-Johnson J, Veloski C, Otto KJ, Wenig BM, Yoder S, Lam C, Park DS, Anderson AR, Raghunand N, Berglund A, Caudell J, Gerke TA, Chung CH. Molecular Determinants of Thyroid Nodules with Indeterminate Cytology and RAS Mutations. Thyroid. 2021 Jan.31(1):36-49. Pubmedid: 32689909. Pmcid: PMC7864115.
• Bayona A, Benavent P, Muriel A, Abuchaibe C, Sharpe SC, Tarasova V, McIver B, Valderrabano P. Outcomes of repeat fineneedle aspiration biopsy for AUS/FLUS thyroid nodules. Eur J Endocrinol. 2021 Aug.185(4):497-506. Pubmedid: 34313606.
• Valderrabano P, Khazai L, Thompson ZJ, Sharpe SC, Tarasova VD, Otto KJ, Hallanger-Johnson JE, Wadsworth JT, Wenig BM, Chung CH, Centeno BA, McIver B. Cancer Risk Associated with Nuclear Atypia in Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Thyroid. 2018 Feb.28(2):210-219. Pubmedid: 29160163. Pmcid: PMC7869885.
• Tarasova VD, Tuttle RM. Current Management of Low Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Papillary Microcarcinoma. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2017 May.29(5):290-297. Pubmedid: 28087101.
• Tarasova VD, Tuttle RM. A Risk-adapted Approach to Follow-up in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2016 Jan.7(1). Pubmedid: 26886955. Pmcid: PMC4737510.
• Shah KK, Tarasova V, Davidian M, Anderson RJ. Painful acute radiation thyroiditis induced by 131I treatment of Graves' disease. BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Jan.2015. Pubmedid: 25576511. Pmcid: PMC4289741.
• Tarasova VD, Caballero JA, Turner P, Inzucchi SE. Speaking to Patients About Diabetes Risk: Is Terminology Important?. Clin Diabetes. 2014 Apr.32(2):90-95. Pubmedid: 26130869. Pmcid: PMC4485246.
• Tarasova VD, Zena M, Rendell M. Artifactual hypoglycemia: an old term for a new classification. Diabetes Care. 2014.37(5):e85-e86. Pubmedid: 24757247.
• Tarasova VD, Trepp-Carrasco AG, Thompson R, Recker RR, Chong WH, Collins MT, Armas LA. Successful treatment of tumor-induced osteomalacia due to an intracranial tumor by fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov.98(11):4267-4272. Pubmedid: 24014621. Pmcid: PMC5399525.

Voted top doctor in Endocrinology in Tampa Magazine’s Top Doctors 2025.

Voted top doctor in Endocrinology in Tampa Magazine's Top Doctors 2024.