Meet Sanford Health Head and Neck Surgeon Dr. Sundeep Alapati

After practicing medicine in other parts of the country, Sundeep Alapati, DO, has joined Sanford Health as a head and neck surgical oncologist at Sanford Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Sioux Falls. He is optimistic about Sanford Health and all it has to offer.

“I’m really looking forward to being at a health system that does the little things,” Dr. Alapati said. “I think it makes it easier to practice medicine and a lot easier to care for patients.”

Before moving to South Dakota, Sanford Health was the only thing Dr. Alapati knew about the state.

“The reputation is fantastic,” stated Dr. Alapati. “I come from a family of physicians. My father worked as a travel ER physician and worked at various Sanford hospitals. He said it was the best hospital system he worked for in his 40-year career.”

Vast Experiences

Dr. Alapati brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to his role as a head and neck surgeon, including a fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

“It was a great comprehensive experience and probably the most amazing place I’ve ever been,” Dr. Alapati stated. “I learned a lot there and took a lot of those teachings to the rest of my career.”

During his residency in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, he saw a lot of complicated head and neck cases.

“I thought about going into oncology before residency, and that kind of confirmed my interest,” he said.

After his fellowship, Dr. Alapati served as the director of head and neck surgery at the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. During that time, he also served as an assistant professor of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

“I got to see a lot of interesting things from people from all over the world being as diverse as it was,” stated Dr. Alapati. “I got to participate in great research projects as well and my mentors were world renowned.”

After New York, Dr. Alapati went to his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, and started a head and neck surgery program.

“I started six months before COVID-19, which presented many challenges. However, I was extremely busy, and that helped me grow,” he stated.

Besides hands-on care, Dr. Alapati has authored multiple book chapters and published numerous journal articles in his fields of expertise. He has also given presentations related to head and neck cancer at several national and international conferences.

A Unique Specialty

There are many moving parts in Dr. Alapati’s role as a head and neck surgeon, including some of the most complicated and complex operations in medicine.

“They require a lot of skill and planning and a lot of support, such as nursing, speech therapy and physical therapy,” he said.

Besides treating patients who have head and neck cancer, Dr. Alapati has developed a strong interest in helping those with thyroid disease.

“It’s almost essentially always curable,” he said. “You really get to think about the quality of life and avoiding surgery and overtreatment. Patients who would have had a major surgery 20 years ago, we’re not doing those anymore. We’re focused on avoiding procedures that could be potentially debilitating.”

In addition to his work with thyroid conditions, Dr. Alapati also helps patients who experience sleep apnea.

“I started building that as part of my practice and found I enjoyed it,” stated Dr. Alapati. “I found it to be very rewarding because you can help people quickly.”

A Philosophy of Individualized Care

Whatever the situation, Dr. Alapati takes a scientific approach that focuses on each individual’s needs and circumstances. 

He finds it beneficial to be on the same cultural level as his patients, focusing on what’s going on with them and how they’ll handle treatment. This insight helps him tailor their treatment plans.

“As a physician, you’re happiest when your patients are happy and doing well,” Dr. Alapati said. “I just want them to have the best possible outcomes they can, including treatment outcomes, mitigation of side effects and the ability to go back to their normal life after they’ve been diagnosed with a potentially debilitating disease.”

To refer a patient to Dr. Alapati, call the Sanford Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at (605) 328-8200.