Rachel Kelz, MD

Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery

4.9 with 102 ratings

Sees patients age 18 and up

Rachel Kelz, MD

Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery

4.9 with 102 ratings

Sees patients age 18 and up

Executive Vice Chair, Clinical Research
Co-Director, Thyroid Disease Team
Director, Center for Precision Resource Utilization
Director, Center for Surgery and Health Economics
William Maul Measey Professor in Surgery
Dr. Kelz is a Penn Medicine physician.

Call 800-789-7366 Request Appointment

Meet Dr. Kelz

Recognized by America's Top Doctors 2015 – 2017

Recognized in Philadelphia magazine's annual Top Docs issues, 2017 - 2021

Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
Cancer Risk Reduction Surgery
Carcinoid Tumors
Conn Syndrome (Hyperaldosteronism)
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Hyperparathyroidism
Insulinoma
Laparotomy
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
Nodular Goiter
Parathyroid Adenoma
Parathyroid Cancer
Parathyroid Disease
Parathyroid Mass
Parathyroidectomy
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid Removal Surgery (Thyroidectomy)
Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Programs and Centers

Penn Medicine's programs and centers combine doctors from many disciplines to coordinate care from start to finish. Dr. Kelz is part of these programs:

Board Certification

Surgery, 2005

Education and Training

Medical School: Yale University
Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Fellowship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Primary Location

Penn Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery Perelman 3rd Floor

Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
Abramson Cancer Center, West Pavilion, 3rd Floor
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Map Call 800-789-7366

View details

Penn Medicine Hospital Privileges

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.

Overall Ratings

out of 5 ; Ratings;

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related question shown above from our internal platform, PMX Feedback. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. Scores reflect either the most recent 12 months of surveys or the most recent 30 surveys overall. Data is updated monthly and comments remain on the profile for 12 months.

Comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Penn Medicine.

Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys.

Please contact the practice and/or the member services department of your insurance company for specific details before receiving services. Providers may participate in some, but not all, products offered by a health plan; providers may also accept plans at some practice locations but not others.

Aetna US Healthcare
Centivo Health Plan
Cigna
Cigna HealthSpring
Clover Health Plan
Devon Health Services (Americare)
Gateway Health Plan
Geisinger Health Plan
Geisinger Medicaid
Global Medical Management
HealthAmerica / HealthAssurance, a Coventry Plan
HealthPartners
HealthPartners Medicare
HealthSmart
Highmark Blue Shield
Homestead Smart Health Plans/Claim Watcher
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Humana / Choicecare
Humana / Medicare
Imagine Health 360

Independence Blue Cross (Keystone East)
Keystone First
Keystone First Medicare
Multiplan
NJ Medicaid
NJ Qualcare
Oscar Health Plan of PA
Oxford Health Plan
PA Health and Wellness (Centene) Medicare
PA Medicaid
PA Medicare
Preferred Health Care/PA Preferred Health Networks
Provider Partners Health Plan
Rail Road Medicare / Palmetto GBA
Tricare
United Healthcare
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
US Family Health Plan
Veterans Choice Program

Description of Research Expertise

health services research, patient safety, surgical endocrinology, disparities of care, outcomes research, intersection of education and outcomes

Selected Publications

Zubizarreta J, Reinke C, Kelz R, Silber J, Rosenbaum P: Matching for several sparse nominal variables in a case-control study of readmission following surgery The American Statistician (TAS) 65 (4): 229-238,2011.

Mills AM, Holena DN, Kallan MJ, Carr BG, Reinke CE, Kelz RR: Effect of insurance status on patients admitted for acute diverticulitis Colorectal Diseases 15 (5): 613-620,2013.

Holena, DN; Hadler, R; Wirtalla, C; Carr, B; Morris, JB; Kelz, RR: Teaching status: The impact on emergency and elective surgical care in the U.S. Annals of Surgery 253 (5): 1017-1023,2011.

Mittal MK, Morris JB, Kelz RR: Germ simulation: A novel approach for raising medical students awareness toward asepsis Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare 6 (2): 65-70,2011.

Silber JH, Rosenbaum PR, Kelz RR, Reinke CE, Neuman MD, Ross RN, Even-Shoshan O, David G, Saynisch PA, Kyle FA, Bratzler DW, Fleisher LA: Medical and financial risks associated with surgery in the elderly obese Annals of Surgery 256 (1): 79-86,2012.

Reinke CE, Hadler RA, Karakousis GC, Fraker DL, Kelz RR: Does the presence of thyroid cancer increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing thyroidectomy? Surgery 150 (6): 1275-1285,2011.

Reinke CE, Drebin J, Kreider S, Kean C, Resnick A, Raper S, Kelz RR: Timing of pre-operative pharmacoprophylaxis for pancreatic surgery patients: A venous thromboembolism reduction initiative Annals of Surgical Oncology 19 (1): 19-25,2012.

Holena D, Mills A, Carr B, Wirtalla C, Sarani, B, Kim P, Braslow B, Kelz RR: Transfer status: A risk factor for mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis Surgery 150 (3): 363-370,2011.

Shah PK, Shah KK, Karakousis GC, Reinke CE, Kelz RR, Fraker DL: Regional recurrence after lymphadenectomy for clinically evident lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid cancer: A cohort study Annals of Surgical Oncology 19 (5): 1453-1459,2012.

Academic Contact Information

Department of Surgery
3400 Spruce Street, 4 Silverstein
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-662-2030
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366

American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, National
American College of Surgeons, National
American Thyroid Association, International
Association for Program Directors in Surgery, National
Association of Academic Surgeons, National
Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), Chicago, IL, National
John Morgan Society, University of Pennsylvania, Local
Philadelphia Academy of Surgeons, Fellow, Local
Society of Clinical Surgery (Scientific Society), National
Society of University Surgeons, National
Surgical Biology II Club (Scientific Society), National
Surgical Outcomes Club (Scientific Society), National