Highlights | Conditions & Treatments | Team | Resources
Welcome to the Columbia Adrenal Center. The hormones produced by the adrenal glands impact every part of the body, so people with adrenal disorders need medical expertise from a variety of specialists. The mission of the Columbia Adrenal Center is to provide compassionate and comprehensive care by bringing all these specialists together in one location with one purpose: to help you with your adrenal disorder.
For each patient we see, our team of endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, nephrologists, radiologists and more work together to plan the optimal course of treatment for the specific disorder and its effects on the rest of the body. Our center is one of only a few select programs in the U.S. that offer this kind of coordinated, multidisciplinary care to serve this special group of patients.
Call (212) 305-0444 or request an appointment online.
Our Adrenal Programs & Services
The expertise of our surgeons and medical doctors combined with the resources offered by Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian allow us to provide superior care to anyone dealing with adrenal disease.
Highlights of Our Center
The most advanced diagnostic equipment
We take pride in being able to meet the highly specific testing and treatment needs of our patients. Our facilities are equipped with the most advanced diagnostic equipment available including PET and MIBG scanners. Our dedicated endovascular facility enables us to conduct all of the sophisticated, cutting-edge diagnostic procedures our patients may need. Certain adrenal diseases require adrenal venous sampling to help determine which adrenal gland is causing the problem. This test is challenging to perform and most practitioners have a success rate of only 60-80%. The Columbia Adrenal Center performs one of the highest volumes of this test in the country and has a success rate of 98%.
Better results, smaller scars through minimally invasive surgery
Over 95 percent of our adrenal surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques that facilitate faster recovery and better quality of life after surgery. Our group was one of the first groups in the US to offer the retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy, a specialized operation to remove adrenal tumors through 3 tiny incisions in the back. Compared to traditional laparoscopic surgery, this advanced techniques has been shown to cause less discomfort, less need for pain medications, fewer complications, faster operative times, and faster recoveries. These smaller incisions also lead to superb cosmetic results.
Advancing adrenal care through research
In addition to our clinical focus, we are committed to clinical trials and basic science research that investigates better ways to diagnose and treat adrenal disorders. As leaders in their field, our team has taken an active role in writing international guidelines on the care of patients with adrenal disease.
Part of a comprehensive endocrine care network
Our team also runs Columbia's world-class Thyroid Center and Parathyroid Center, each an important piece of our effort to improve the quality of care for all people dealing with endocrine disease.
Stories & Perspective
State of the Union: Thyroid, Parathyroid and Endocrine Surgery in 2024
Chief of Endocrine Surgery James Lee, MD, explains the current state of the field and discusses coming advances. Read More »
About Adrenal Conditions & Treatments
About the Adrenal Glands
Adrenal Conditions
- Adrenal Cancer
- Adrenal Incidentaloma
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Metastatic Disease to the Adrenal Gland
- Paraganglioma
- Pheochromocytoma
- Primary Hyperaldosteronism (Conn's Syndrome)
- Sex-hormone Producing Tumor
Adrenal Treatments
Stories & Perspective
Dr. James Lee Answers Five Questions About Adrenal Surgery in 2024
Chief of Endocrine Surgery, Dr. James Lee, answers important questions about the latest advances and future goals in the treatment of adrenal disease. Read More »
Our Team
At the Columbia Adrenal Center, a team of expert physicians from multiple specialties work in concert to present every individual with a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for his or her adrenal disease.
Call (212) 305-0444 or request an appointment online.
Adrenal Surgery
Surgery is often the most effective treatment for adrenal disease. Adrenal surgery is performed by surgeons trained in endocrine surgery.
James Lee, MD
Chief of Endocrine Surgery
Surgical Director, Thyroid, Parathyroid, and Adrenal Centers
Endocrine Surgeon
Jennifer Kuo, MD
Endocrine Surgeon
Catherine McManus, MD
Endocrine Surgeon
Eric J. Kuo, MD
Endocrine Surgeon
Endocrinology
Endocrinologists are typically the first line in establishing a diagnosis of adrenal disease and setting up a treatment plan, and they help coordinate your care with other adrenal specialists.
Salila Kurra, MD
Medical Director, Adrenal Center
Endocrinologist
John Ausiello, MD
Endocrinologist
Medical Oncology
This is the study of cancer and its treatment. Oncologists on our team are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal tumors like pheochromocytoma.
Tito A. Fojo, MD, PhD
Medical Oncologist
Additional Specialists
Anesthesiology – Doctors in this field oversee sedation during surgery and pain management in the immediate post-surgery period
- Brian J. Egan, MD | Anesthesiologist
- H. Thomas Lee, MD, PhD | Anesthesiologist
- John S. Mercer, MD | Anesthesiologist
- Julia B. Sobol, MD | Anesthesiologist
- Gebhard Wagener, MD | Anesthesiologist
Genetics – Some adrenal disorders have an inherited component, and some inherited diseases may affect the adrenal glands. Geneticists help identify your risk for these conditions and the risk of passing them on to your children.
- Alejandro Daniel Iglesias, MD | Geneticist
Nephrology – The adrenal gland sends out hormones that can tell the kidneys to raise blood pressure, so our team includes kidney experts called nephrologists. Our nephrologists subspecialize in kidney-related hypertension, or high blood pressure.
- Andrew Bomback, MD | Nephrologist
- Jai Radhakrishnan, MD | Nephrologist
Vascular Surgery – Vascular surgeons are experts at performing procedures on even the most delicate of arteries and veins. Their role in adrenal care comes in the form of selective venous sampling, a test that can help determine if surgical treatment is necessary.
- Nicholas Morrissey, MD | Vascular Surgeon
Radiology – Radiologists are imaging experts that help endocrinologists diagnose adrenal issues and allow surgeons to better prepare for procedures.
- Jeffrey Newhouse, MD | Radiologist
Resources & More
Contact Information
Call us at (212) 305-0444 or request an appointment online.
Documents and records can be faxed to us at (212) 305-0445 / (212) 305-3881.
Manhattan Office
Herbert Irving Pavilion, 8th Floor
161 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
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Westchester Office
155 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
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New Jersey Office
300 Frank W Burr Blvd
Suite 130
Teaneck, NJ 07666
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Planning & Preparing
- Finding an Endocrine Surgeon: What should you look for?
- What to Expect at a Consultation
- How to Prepare for a Consultation
- What to Expect After a Consultation
- What to Expect – Your Surgery
- How to Prepare for an Operation
- Patient Form (PDF File)
- Care after Endocrine Surgery
Stories & Perspectives
- State of the Union: Thyroid, Parathyroid, and Endocrine Surgery in 2024: Chief of Endocrine Surgery James Lee, MD, explains the current state of the field and discusses coming advances. Read More »
- Dr. James Lee Answers Five Questions About Adrenal Surgery in 2024: Chief of Endocrine Surgery, Dr. James Lee, answers important questions about the latest advances and future goals in the treatment of adrenal disease. Read More »
- Curing a Rare Cancer—Danielle’s Story: Danielle was teaching music in a Virginia elementary school and planning her next vacation when she learned that she had a rare cancer called adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) arising in the outer layer of the adrenal glands that rest on top of the kidneys. Read More »
- Selective venous sampling—solving a hypertension puzzle: JM had been struggling for years to keep his high blood pressure under control. His endocrinologist recommended a test called selective venous sampling, and the results explained why JM's hypertension wasn't responding to typical medications. Read More »
More Resources
Call us at (212) 305-0444 or request an appointment online.