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Biography
Dr. Kaniksha Desai is a board-certified endocrinologist and clinical associate professor at Stanford University. She completed her endocrinology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, with an emphasis on the management of patients with thyroid cancer. Dr. Desai’s clinical practice focuses on the management of patients with thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. She also maintains board certification in neck ultrasonography.
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Professional Summary
Education & Certifications
- ECNU, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Board Certain, Neck Ultrasonography (2016)
- Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (2015)
- Fellowship: Mayo Clinic Endocrinology Fellowship (2015) FL
- Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Internal Medicine Residency (2013) VA
- Medical Education: Wake Forest School of Medicine (2010) NC
Honors & Awards
- Fellow of American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (FACE), AACE (2021)
- Fellow of Endocrine Alliance Academy (FEAA), Endocrine Alliance (2022)
Memberships
- Endocrine Board Review Faculty, Endocrine Society (2023 - Present)
- Chair Public Health Committee, American Thyroid Association (2020 - Present)
- Item Writing Task Force Member, American Board of Internal Medicine (2020 - Present)
- Thyroid Disease Network Committee Member, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (2021 - Present)
- Fellow Member, Stanford Medicine Center of Improvement (2022 - Present)
- Member, American Thyroid Association (2013 - Present)
- Member, Endocrine Society (2013 - Present)
- Member, American Association Of Clinical Endocrinology (2013 - Present)
Administrative Appointments
- Clinical Advice Services, Stanford Health Care (2017 - Present)
- Co-Chair, Clinical Educator Advisory Committee, Stanford School of Medicine (2020 - Present)
- Endocrinology Quality Director, Stanford Health Care (2018 - Present)
- Physician Director, Realizing Improvement through Team Empowerment (RITE), Stanford HealthCare (2021 - Present)
- Resident and Medical Student Director Endocrinology, Stanford School of Medicine (2018 - Present)
Publications
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Socioeconomic Predictors of Pituitary Surgery
Deb, S., Vyas, D. B., Pendharkar, A., Rezaii, P. G., Schoen, M. K., Desai, K., … Desai, A. (2019). Socioeconomic Predictors of Pituitary Surgery. CUREUS, 11(1). -
Socioeconomic Predictors of Pituitary Surgery.
Deb, S., Vyas, D. B., Pendharkar, A. V., Rezaii, P. G., Schoen, M. K., Desai, K., … Desai, A. (2019). Socioeconomic Predictors of Pituitary Surgery. Cureus, 11(1), e3957. -
DUAL ECTOPIC THYROID GLANDS.
Vukkadala, N., Desai, K., & Megwalu, U. (2019). DUAL ECTOPIC THYROID GLANDS. Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. -
Clinical efficacy of frameless stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of spinal metastases from thyroid carcinoma.
Hariri, O., Takayanagi, A., Lischalk, J., Desai, K., Florence, T. J., Yazdian, P., … Desai, A. (2019). Clinical efficacy of frameless stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of spinal metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Spine. -
Visual Vignette
Vukkadala, N., Desai, K., & Megwalu, U. (2019). Visual Vignette. ENDOCRINE PRACTICE, 25(12), 1366. -
Doege-Potter syndrome presenting as 'end-stage renal disease-associated hypoglycaemia': a primary presentation of retroperitoneal sarcoma.
Shekhar, S., Chen, J., & Desai, K. (2020). Doege-Potter syndrome presenting as 'end-stage renal disease-associated hypoglycaemia': a primary presentation of retroperitoneal sarcoma. BMJ Case Reports, 13(8). -
Metastatic Paraganglioma of the Spine With SDHB Mutation: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Jabarkheel, R., Pendharkar, A., Lavezo, J. L., Annes, J., Desai, K., Vogel, H., & Desai, A. M. (2021). Metastatic Paraganglioma of the Spine With SDHB Mutation: Case Report and Review of the Literature. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPINE SURGERY, 14, S37–S45. -
Metastatic Paraganglioma of the Spine With SDHB Mutation: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Jabarkheel, R., Pendharkar, A. V., Lavezo, J. L., Annes, J., Desai, K., Vogel, H., & Desai, A. M. (2021). Metastatic Paraganglioma of the Spine With SDHB Mutation: Case Report and Review of the Literature. International Journal of Spine Surgery, 14(s4), S37–S45. -
RADIOTHERAPY FOR BRAIN METASTASES FROM THYROID CANCER: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Blomain, E., Berta, S., Hug, N., Giao, D., Meola, A., Binkley, M., … Pollom, E. (2021). RADIOTHERAPY FOR BRAIN METASTASES FROM THYROID CANCER: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. NEURO-ONCOLOGY. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. -
Radiotherapy for brain metastases from thyroid cancer: an institutional and national retrospective cohort study.
Blomain, E. S., Berta, S., Hug, N. F., Giao, D. M., Meola, A., Binkley, M. S., … Pollom, E. L. (2022). Radiotherapy for brain metastases from thyroid cancer: an institutional and national retrospective cohort study. Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association. -
Benign Ectopic Thyroid in the Lateral (Level II) Neck Compartment
Liu, G. S., Berry, G. J., Desai, K., & Megwalu, U. C. (2022). Benign Ectopic Thyroid in the Lateral (Level II) Neck Compartment. CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, 14(2). -
Benign Ectopic Thyroid in the Lateral (Level II) Neck Compartment.
Liu, G. S., Berry, G. J., Desai, K., & Megwalu, U. C. (2022). Benign Ectopic Thyroid in the Lateral (Level II) Neck Compartment. Cureus, 14(2), e22140. -
A Parathyroid Hormone-guided Calcium and Calcitriol Supplementation Protocol Reduces Hypocalcemia-related Readmissions Following Total Thyroidectomy.
Chindris, A.-M., Desai, K., Ozgursoy, S. K., Heckman, M. G., & Casler, J. D. (2023). A Parathyroid Hormone-guided Calcium and Calcitriol Supplementation Protocol Reduces Hypocalcemia-related Readmissions Following Total Thyroidectomy. Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. -
Surgical resection of mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue: a case series
Motlaghzadeh, Y., Nesbit, S., Guo, H. H., Yang, E., Desai, K., & Lui, N. S. (2023). Surgical resection of mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue: a case series. JOURNAL OF THORACIC DISEASE. -
Hyperthyroidism Due to Graves Disease After Radiofrequency Ablation.
McAninch, E. A., Desai, K., McCowen, K. C., & Orloff, L. A. (2023). Hyperthyroidism Due to Graves Disease After Radiofrequency Ablation. JCEM Case Reports, 1(3), luad056.
Practice Locations
Endocrinology Clinic at Hoover Pavilion Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Endocrinology Clinic at Hoover Pavilion
211 Quarry Road, 2nd Floor, Suite 205
Palo Alto , CA 94304
Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »Endocrinology Clinic at Boswell Building Stanford, CA
Stanford, CA
Endocrinology Clinic at Boswell Building
300 Pasteur Drive , 1st Floor, Suite A175
Stanford , CA 94305
Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »Head and Neck Cancer Program at 900 Blake Wilbur Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Head and Neck Cancer Program at 900 Blake Wilbur
900 Blake Wilbur Drive
Palo Alto , CA 94304
Make An Appointment More Clinic Information » Getting Here »Important Information about Our Organizations and Physician Affiliation
Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, and Stanford Medicine Partners are each independent nonprofit organizations that are affiliated with but separate from each other and from Stanford University. The physicians who provide care at facilities operated by Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, and Stanford Medicine Partners are faculty, foundation, or community physicians who are not employees, representatives, or agents of Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri- Valley, or Stanford Medicine Partners. Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, and Stanford Medicine Partners do not exercise control over the care provided by such faculty, foundation, and community physicians and are not responsible for their actions.
Patient Reviews
(140 reviews)
She’s awesome!
Visit was great. Dr. Made sure I understood everything and answered any questions I had
I enjoy working with her and her staff.
Lovely provider, very patient centered and flexible.
Dr Desai is extremely easy to talk to and is very patient centered in her approach.
She’s just the best!
Thank you so much for all your help !!
Exceptional care. Highly recommend!
I appreciate Dr, Desai and her team.
Dr Desai is hands down one of the best physicians that I have seen at Stanford!
Care at Stanford Health Care is always good no matter who I see. Lately it's been Dr. Cabebe, Dr. Desai and Jennifer Kizner.
She’s very nice and I feel comfortable talking to her, she makes sure we cover all the issues of my health problem, she emphasizes.
She is very pleasant - has a good bedside manner. She answers all my questions and explains things so a lay person can understand. I am very that Dr Desai is my endocrinologist. I would recommend her to family and friends.
Dr. Desai is great! She has been my endocrinologist for several years and has always provided excellent care. Dr. Desai is kind, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable, and she always points me in the right direction when my health questions move into areas beyond the scope of treatment for my thyroid condition. I appreciate having the option to do video visits, but I would also like to be able to see Dr. Desai in person on occasion.
Wonderful Doctor!
My appointment went well. It was thorough and I did not have any unanswered questions.
She is an excellent doctor.
No complaints- on time and thorough
Dr Desai so kindly and helpful
She is a very sweet person and I’m happy to have her as my doctor and support me
I enjoy working with Dr. Kaniksha Desai. She is a very pleasing person to talk with.
I am pleased with the video visit with Dr Desai.
She’s wonderful. Keeps me on track my health.
She’s a wonderful doctor, with compassion for her patients.
She is very thorough and knowledgeable. I always enjoy my video meetings with her.
She covered all the bases and answered all questions I asked!
Very helpful
great to talk to you. let s hope the app works better next time.
Always direct and clear -- most helpful
Dr. Desai was excellent.
She is an excellent physician and very patient and kind. Always attentive and caring. I’m truly lucky to have her as my doctor.
Excellent physician, very compassionate, listened and answered all of my comments and questions.
Great doctor! Thoughtful, caring and easy to talk to.
I was glad to see you and will look forward to see her next year.
Quick visit, prescription renewed. All well with me and bloodwork.
She is a lovely doctor that I always look forward to seeing
She is a caring, thorough and wonderful physician.
Thank you🤗
I would really like to thank you and the team there at Stanford. You make me feel important and not just another number. Your caring and compassion come through and is very reassuring.
Thank you!
Enjoy having her as my physician
Very good.
She's great.
I consider her an excellent health care provider.
She’s knowledgeable, personable & always clearly answers any questions I might have in a way that I can understand.
Dr. Desai is an excellent doctor and works well with me.
She always comes across as caring and informative. With her I do not feel like a just another patient. I know she is a very busy Doctor, but always takes the time to answer my questions.
Dr. Desai is a nice and good doctor. she explained in detail all of my concerns and give time for my questions.
I'm happy with this video visit with Dr. Desai this time because this visit is for her to confirm what she's seen from my thyroid Ultrasound so does not really need an in person visit
thank you
They’re very professional and easy to talk to very accommodating and compassionate
Excellent
Dr. Desai is a very dedicated, caring and organized doctor, she relates well to me, she is supportive and positive. I feel very lucky to be under her care. She is fabulous in every manner.
Dr. Desai is truly a wonderful, caring, and empathetic doctor and I am so happy she is my new thyroid cancer endocrinologist.
Very professional and caring team there.
Dr Desai is knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Very supportive and understanding.
She is nice.
She’s the greatest
She is so helpful
Great Doctor!
I appreciated that she had read my reports before the visit and knew how to counsel me.
I'm comfortable with Dr. Desai's care.
She do an excellent job she care for her patient Thx 👧🠻👧🠻
Great dr!
Dr. Desai is a very good doctor.
Outstanding service, I am happy to have her as one of my doctors!!!
Perfect in every way.
Really happy to have her on my care team, she is attentive and I know I’m in good hands.
Dr. Desai is a wonderful asset to the healthcare team. She constantly demonstrates her expertise with thyroid cancer, etc. and is thoughtful and intelligent in her patient centered approach. Dr. Desai is incredibly smart, listens to what’s being said and just a lovely person. Thanks Dr. Desai!
Dr. Desai is an engaged and excellent endocrinologist.
Very happy to have Dr. Desai as part of my care team!
Very easily understood explanation. I was left impressed and felt cared for in very, good hands.
Very personable and knowledgeable
Dr. Desai is friendly, personable, professional, very knowledgeable and informational. I look forward to our continued association & collaberation regarding my ongoing medical care and treatment.
The best..
She listens, she cares, she clearly explains everything, and she makes me feel comfortable that I am getting great care.
She’s a very nice person and professional doctor. I feel comfortable with her decisions
Very well informed Dr
Dr. Desai is an excellent doctor.
Dr. Desai was very nice, thorough and easy to talk to
She’s the best.
She is always so thorough with me, explains thing to me clearly, ask for my thoughts about changes and gives me lots of time to ask questions.
I always leave feeling well taken care of.
She is an outstanding doctor. She always listens to my concern and addresses them well.
Thank you very much.
Very pleased with Dr. Desai
I love my dr.
Until now everything is fine.
I feel she did a very good job explaining everything.
Appreciate her openness and knowledge.
Dr. Desai is great and I am very glad to have her as my doctor. I feel I get excellent care and she is particularly good at explaining things to me in practical terms.
She is very nice and polite
Dr. Kaniksha Desai is a very good doctor.
Good doctor for myself
Dr. Desai is very good and she has answered all my questions and also examined all the results of my blood work and made recommendations on how to make the nos. better.
I adore Dr. Desai she makes me feel comfortable to talk about anything.
She also remembers what is happening with my medication.
Explains things so I can easily understand.
She's a knowledgeable doctor with excellent bed side manner.
She is a great doctor. I would recommend her highly.
She is pleasant and caring
I love my doctors at Stanford
I love to have as my dr she is wonderful she takes time for the paciente. Thanks
She is a great dr… but needs experience and patience for dosaging thru myhealth messages … not all humans are created equal. It’s more complicated…
I really like my doctor
Dr. Desai answered all my questions in a manner that was easy to understand.
Always nice.
She doesn’t always follow up on items she indicates she is going to. This last visit the Quest lab didn’t send a result for my calcium level and she was going to follow up on that or have me get another blood test. I haven’t heard from her and my appointment was Monday
Excellent health care. Team decision making. Friendly, professional and all around excellent. I feel fortunate to be in her care,
Dr. Desai,
Covered all the questions I had as she always does.
Thank You
I am always ready to offer up Dr Desai's name as a referral.
She is great, always takes the time to explain things and will always answer your questions.
Always a pleasure!
Dr Desai is great !!
Thank you
I think she is great and I am lucky to have her on my team.
Dr. Desai is very pleasant, caring, and professional. She communicates very clearly and has been a wonderful care provider. I'm thankful to have her as my endocrinologist.
Very nice very detailed information as per my situation
Easy to relate to, open, and personable. Appreciate her!
She seems to be a very knowledgeable doctor, and very personable. She doesn't make you feel rushed. She answers all of your questions.
Very nice
I love her! She is my favourite endocrinologist I have had so far, and I have had 4! She is so thoughtful, funny, and kind, and I can't wait to see her for my next check-up in 6 months! :)
She is amazing
Thank you !!!
Dr. Desai is great!
Delightful to work with. Encouraging and honest. I really appreciate her care.
Great Doctor!
She is so nice
I'm very pleased with the medical care that Dr. Desai has provided for me.
She is knowledgeable and compassionate; and she took the time to make sure she answered all of my questions.
The doctor made sure to check my mom very well and explained the situation very good. Also made sure we understood and answered some doubts they had.
Dr. Desai performed an FNA biopsy (on the thyroid nodule on my right lobe) She was warm and friendly and spent quite some time doing a thorough biopsy and obtaining sufficient number of samples to perform an Afirma test, if indicated. She took time to explain my condition and answered all the (concerns) questions from my wife.
Dr. Desai is knowledgeable and thorough. She genuinely listens to patient concerns and explains easy to understand solutions. Very compassionate and caring doctor.
I was so relieved speaking w/her. She eased so many of my concerns.
I am very grateful to Dr. Desai for taking me in earlier than my scheduled time.
Good.
I'm very satisfied with my care
Dr Desai is very caring and compassionate. She genuinely took her time to listens and answered all my concerns - even giving referral to other doctor. She is so wonderful in all aspects!
Very great.
Dr. Desai is absolutely amazing. Thoughtful, positive, and put my concerns to ease.
I will always recommend this care for anybody that has any medical issues. The service is great.
I have had great satisfaction in the relationship we have with Dr. Desai. She is smart, charming, has the medical knowledge at her fingertips, keeps us up to date on my surgery, complex as the case is, and holds Dr. Holsinger in her communication with us and schedules telephone conferences that come off on time and without a lapsed date. She prepares them, me, my family and our appointed medical situation. She explains everything medically, test results, scan, imaging and lab results. She found my first tumor in one lymph node when many had viewed the scans and ultrasounds but not picked up on it. We trust her completely and admire everything that she is as a doctor and a person of character. She also acknowledges that we come a long way for the appointments and is sensitive to our needs in that way.
Dr. Desai is very friendly and knowledgeable!
Dr Desai was by far the best endo Dr my son has seen. she was concerned about problems outside of his diabetes and wanted to be sure we had a plan for getting those issues cared for.
Dr. Desai immediately put me at ease with her friendly low-key manner. She answered all my questions and totally prepared me for the discomforts of the biopsy (which were minimal.) She gave me a call with the biopsy results one week later.
Dr. Desai is excellent. Intelligent and knowledgeable easy to work with.
Excellenc communication and Dr Desai contacted my cardiologist and was persistent in contacting him as well as me regarding follow up and medication recomendations. Excellent patient care and concern, knowlegable and was easy to understand what my condition and diagnosis is. Excellent Doctor Stanford is well represented by Dr. Desai.
Care provider is friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and spends time with patient. Very good care provider. I appreciate the help from Stanford.
I saw 2 doctors previously and it was the first clear, understandable communication about my condition that I have received.
I was very pleased with my care provider.
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Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
- Send referrals online
- Place radiology and lab orders
- View referral status
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