Robert Udelsman, MD, MBA, FACS, FACE
William H Carmalt Professor Emeritus of SurgeryCards
About
Titles
William H Carmalt Professor Emeritus of Surgery
Biography
Robert Udelsman, MD, MSB, MBA, FACS, FACE a graduate of Lafayette College, attended George Washington University School of Medicine and graduated first in his class in 1981. He obtained his surgical training at John Hopkins and completed fellowships in medical endocrinology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, oncologic surgery at the National Cancer Institute, NIH and gastrointestinal surgery at John Hopkins Hospital.
Dr. Udelsman’s clinical research has focused on the development of minimally invasive endocrine surgery with an emphasis on the parathyroid glands. His work has resulted in over 300 publications. He has received multiple awards and is a member of 30 national and international societies and 7 editorial boards. He is past President of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons. He maintains an active clinical practice and has performed over 6,000 thyroid and 2,500 parathyroid cases.
He is the William H. Carmalt Professor of Surgery and Oncology at the Yale University School of Medicine, Chairman of Surgery, Surgeon-in-Chief of Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Chairman of Yale Medicine. He considers his most important role as that of an educator committed to training tomorrow’s leaders in academic surgery.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MA
- Yale University, Hon (2001)
- MBA
- Johns Hopkins University (2000)
- Fellow
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1990)
- Chief Resident
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1989)
- Resident
- John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1988)
- Fellow
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (1985)
- Fellow
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD (1985)
- Intern
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (1982)
- MD
- George Washington School of Medicine (1981)
- BA
- Lafayette College (1977)
Research
Publications
2024
Modified Bethesda criteria for thyroid aspirates significantly decrease nondiagnostic rates without decreasing sensitivity
Renshaw A, Schiro B, Erinjeri N, Udelsman R. Modified Bethesda criteria for thyroid aspirates significantly decrease nondiagnostic rates without decreasing sensitivity. Journal Of The American Society Of Cytopathology 2024, 13: 346-349. PMID: 38772761, DOI: 10.1016/j.jasc.2024.04.005.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2014
Paradigm Shift in the Surgical Management of Multigland Parathyroid Hyperplasia: An Individualized Approach
Lebastchi AH, Donovan PI, Udelsman R. Paradigm Shift in the Surgical Management of Multigland Parathyroid Hyperplasia: An Individualized Approach. JAMA Surgery 2014, 149: 1133-1137. PMID: 25188005, DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2014.1296.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConventional treatment groupTotal hospital chargesLength of stayParathyroid hyperplasiaGeneral anesthesiaPrimary hyperparathyroidismComplication rateConsecutive patientsConscious sedationHospital chargesLocoregional anesthesiaLimited incisionTreatment groupsConventional treatmentLower total hospital chargesPreoperative serum calcium levelsSerum parathyroid hormone levelsTertiary academic referral centerParathyroid hormone levelsBilateral neck explorationShorter hospital staySingle-gland diseaseAcademic referral centerSerum calcium levelsTreatment of patientsGuidelines for the Management of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Summary Statement from the Fourth International Workshop
Bilezikian JP, Brandi ML, Eastell R, Silverberg SJ, Udelsman R, Marcocci C, Potts JT. Guidelines for the Management of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Summary Statement from the Fourth International Workshop. The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2014, 99: 3561-3569. PMID: 25162665, PMCID: PMC5393490, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-1413.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Surgical Management of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop
Udelsman R, Åkerström G, Biagini C, Duh QY, Miccoli P, Niederle B, Tonelli F. The Surgical Management of Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop. The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2014, 99: 3595-3606. PMID: 25162669, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-2000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAsymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidismExperienced endocrine surgeonsPrimary hyperparathyroidismSurgical managementEndocrine surgeonsSurgical criteriaRapid intraoperative PTH assayIntraoperative PTH assayHigh cure ratesLow complication rateFourth International WorkshopInternational task forceComprehensive literature searchComplication rateIntraoperative adjunctsMedical contraindicationsPreoperative imagingCure rateSurgical approachPotential complicationsPTH assaysRegional anesthesiaSkeletal manifestationsSurgeon involvementOperative planRisk stratification in follicular neoplasm: A cytological assessment using the modified bethesda classification
Ustun B, Chhieng D, Van Dyke A, Carling T, Holt E, Udelsman R, Adeniran AJ. Risk stratification in follicular neoplasm: A cytological assessment using the modified bethesda classification. Cancer Cytopathology 2014, 122: 536-545. PMID: 24753500, DOI: 10.1002/cncy.21425.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHürthle cell neoplasmsFollicular neoplasmPapillary thyroid carcinomaFollicular lesionsBethesda classificationRisk stratificationFollicular variantThyroid carcinomaCytological diagnosisThyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) casesThyroid cytologyAggressive surgical managementHigh positive predictive valueSurgical pathology reportsPositive predictive valueFine-needle aspiration casesSurgical managementPathology reportsCell neoplasmsCurrent recommendationsNuclear atypiaCytology recordsCytological assessmentDiagnostic lobectomyNeoplasmsFollicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Accuracy of FNA Diagnosis and Implications for Patient Management
Ustun B, Chhieng D, Prasad ML, Holt E, Hammers L, Carling T, Udelsman R, Adeniran AJ. Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Accuracy of FNA Diagnosis and Implications for Patient Management. Endocrine Pathology 2014, 25: 257-264. PMID: 24696132, DOI: 10.1007/s12022-014-9301-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFinal diagnosisPapillary thyroid carcinomaCytologic diagnosisDiagnostic accuracySurgical interventionFollicular variantPatient managementThyroid carcinomaFollicular lesionsFine needle aspiration cytologyDiagnostic studiesFollicular neoplasm casesSubsequent surgical interventionBethesda classification systemDiagnosis of FVPTCFinal histologic diagnosisAccuracy of cytologyNeedle aspiration cytologyThyroid fine needle aspiration cytologyPercentage of casesBRAF mutation analysisCompletion thyroidectomyTotal thyroidectomyHistologic confirmationRetrospective reviewContinuous glucose monitoring in the surgical intensive care unit
Schuster KM, Barre K, Inzucchi SE, Udelsman R, Davis KA. Continuous glucose monitoring in the surgical intensive care unit. Journal Of Trauma And Acute Care Surgery 2014, 76: 798-803. PMID: 24553551, DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000000127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurgical intensive care unitIntensive glycemic controlContinuous glucose monitoring systemIntensive care unitCare unitInsulin infusionCapillary blood glucose readingsDoses of vasopressorsLarge volume resuscitationBlood glucose readingsContinuous glucose monitoringCBG readingsGlycemic controlBland-Altman plotsClinical outcomesGlucose monitoring systemFluid balanceSubcutaneous tissueLevel IIIGlucose readingsDiagnostic studiesGlucose monitoringAbsolute differenceError grid analysisMedian absolute differenceOperative confidence of graduating surgery residents: a training challenge in a changing environment
Fonseca AL, Reddy V, Longo WE, Udelsman R, Gusberg RJ. Operative confidence of graduating surgery residents: a training challenge in a changing environment. The American Journal Of Surgery 2014, 207: 797-805. PMID: 24530093, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.09.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Affairs hospitalGeneral surgery residentsSurgery residentsOpen operationOpen surgical proceduresOperative confidenceGeneral surgical trainingSurgical volumeSurgical proceduresConfidence deficitsSurgical residentsFurther studiesHospitalSurgical trainingTraining programProgram characteristicsResidentsSignificant lack
2013
Thyroid Cancer
Carling T, Udelsman R. Thyroid Cancer. Annual Review Of Medicine 2013, 65: 125-137. PMID: 24274180, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-061512-105739.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsThyroid cancerCentral cervical lymph node dissectionCervical lymph node dissectionPreoperative fine needle biopsyLymph node dissectionAdvanced thyroid cancerFavorable natural historyMost thyroid cancersFine-needle biopsyNode dissectionTotal thyroidectomyDrug therapyClinical trialsTargetable pathwaysMortality rateRadioactive iodineNatural historyCancerAppropriate useAppropriate extentDiagnostic purposesMolecular analysisLymphadenectomyThyroidectomyBiopsyCure Predictability During Parathyroidectomy
Udelsman R, Donovan P, Shaw C. Cure Predictability During Parathyroidectomy. World Journal Of Surgery 2013, 38: 525-533. PMID: 24240672, DOI: 10.1007/s00268-013-2327-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPostoperative parathyroid hormoneResidual diseaseCure rateTermination of surgeryConsecutive unselected patientsMean cure rateLogistic stepwise regressionCervical explorationPTH curveCurative resectionPrimary hyperparathyroidismPTH valuesUnselected patientsParathyroid hormoneSA patientsHyperfunctioning tissueOperative casesPatientsSubsequent cohortsLog oddsResectionCureAdditional explorationDiseaseCalcium data
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News & Links
News
- May 14, 2018
Honoring the tradition
- April 01, 2016Source: New Haven Register
New thyroid surgical technique a ‘game-changer,’ Yale-New Haven doctor says
- October 03, 2014
Department of Surgery Donates Monetary Gift to Yale-New Haven Hospital
- August 11, 2014
Acclaimed surgeon is new chief of vascular surgery