Where informed patients make confident treatment decisions.
Save Your Thyroid with Jennifer Holkem
Save Your Thyroid with Jennifer Holkem
Thyroid nodules impact 70 percent of adults in their lifetime. The standard of care is surgical removal of half or all of the gland. But in recent years, nonsurgical treatment options have become available. Hi, my name is Jennifer Holkem and I advocate for fellow patients suffering with this very common condition. I sit down with patients and physicians and discuss life with thyroid nodules, the journey from diagnosis to treatment, and how to save your thyroid through nonsurgical advances in medicine.
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Save Your Thyroid with Jennifer Holkem

SAVE YOUR THYROID WITH JEN

I’m Jennifer Holkem, a patient advocate with a passion to help patients understand their thyroid nodule diagnosis and explore treatment options—including nonsurgical ways to save your thyroid.

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Save Your Thyroid with Jennifer Holkem

A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE

Jennifer Holkem is a passionate educator and advocate committed to helping patients save their thyroid whenever possible. In 2019, a nonsurgical thryoid procedure (RFA) gave her relief from her debilitating symptoms caused by a very large, benign thyroid nodule. The road to treatment was not easy and she knew there were many other patients who needed to know about this life-changing procedure.

 

HEAR JEN'S FULL STORY

 

BRIDGING THE GAP

Recognizing the severe lack of patient-oriented resources on these alternatives, Jennifer began creating educational content online. Her work bridges the gap between patients and physicians, featuring global expert interviews, real patient stories, and in-depth explanations of emerging treatments.

After undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in 2019 for a large benign thyroid nodule, she founded Save Your Thyroid (SYT)—a thriving community dedicated to supporting patients seeking FDA-cleared, nonsurgical, thyroid-preserving treatment options. She also developed the SYT website, including a curated list of known physician providers. 

Jennifer devotes herself full-time to developing thyroid-preserving education and supporting the SYT community and the public at large.

 

VISIT THE SAVE YOUR THYROID WEBSITE

 

NAVIGATING NODULES

Now, through her lived experience and deep network in the field, Jennifer offers personalized patient navigation services—guiding others through their diagnostic and treatment journey with empathy, insight, and trustworthy information.

 

SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION NOW

 

 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN HERE:

 

  1. What thyroid nodules are – and why they’re so common, yet often misunderstood.

  2. Non-surgical treatment options – like RFA and others that aren’t always mentioned at the first doctor’s visit.

  3. How to prepare for doctor appointments – including which questions to ask and what to look out for.

  4. How to find the right physician – based on geography, specialty, and approach to treatment.

  5. How to make confident, informed decisions – even when your options feel unclear or overwhelming.

  6. Real stories from real patients – and what they learned on their journey.

  7. Insights from doctors – shared through interviews, consults, and podcast episodes.

  8. Ways to protect your thyroid – and preserve quality of life through smarter care choices.

  9. What to expect during and after nonsurgical procedures – with a focus on recovery, risks, and results.

  10. That you’re not alone – and there’s a patient-first community here to support you.

Recent Episodes

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Is Your RFA Doctor Certified? A New Standard for Thyroid Ablation | Dr. Ahmad & Dr. Aljammal
122
July 7, 2026

Is Your RFA Doctor Certified? A New Standard for Thyroid Ablation | Dr. Ahmad & Dr. Aljammal

For seven years, thyroid RFA in the United States has operated without formal standards. Any licensed physician could offer the procedure regardless of their training, case volume, or documented outcomes. That's changing.Dr. Jules Aljammal was the first endocrinologist in the US to perform thyroid RFA for benign thyroid nodules. Dr. Shahzad Ahmad has since performed the highest number of RFA procedures of any endocrinologist in the country. Together they are the founder and president-elect of
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RFA, Robotic Surgery & the Future of Thyroid Care: Dr. Eren Berber
121
June 23, 2026

RFA, Robotic Surgery & the Future of Thyroid Care: Dr. Eren Berber

Dr. Eren Berber is a Professor of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic and Director of Robotic Endocrine Surgery. He performed some of the first robotic thyroid operations in the US, brought thyroid RFA to Ohio, and has authored more than 350 scientific papers.His honest take on every major thyroid treatment option will surprise you.On robotic surgery: the only real advantage is avoiding a neck scar. Outcomes are not superior to conventional surgery — and he pioneered it.On ablation: he was skeptic
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Canceling Thyroid Surgery: Chelsie’s Journey with Indeterminate Nodules & Dr. Emad Kandil
120
June 9, 2026

Canceling Thyroid Surgery: Chelsie’s Journey with Indeterminate Nodules & Dr. Emad Kandil

Navigating an Indeterminate Thyroid Nodule Diagnosis with Chelsie PaulsonWhat do you do when your thyroid biopsy results leave you with more questions than answers? In this episode of Save Your Thyroid, I am joined by Chelsie Paulson, a vocal advocate and active member of our patient community. After an Afirma molecular test came back with a 50/50 inconclusive result, Chelsie was told that removing her thyroid was her only option.Instead of accepting lifelong thyroid hormone replacement,
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82% Nodule Reduction Without Surgery: Emily’s nsPFA Success Story
119
May 19, 2026

82% Nodule Reduction Without Surgery: Emily’s nsPFA Success Story

For most thyroid patients, the path from diagnosis to treatment moves fast — sometimes too fast to stop and ask whether there's another way.Emily Saska's story started with a back scan. An incidental finding. A nodule she had never felt, never thought about, and never seen coming. Within weeks it was growing rapidly, visibly bulging in her neck, and she was sitting in an exam room being referred directly to a general surgeon — with no mention that any other option existed.Emily went home
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Reviews

Consultation With Jen- Best Decision I’ve Ever Made

"I had an ultrasound done that reported I had a .9 cm TIRAD5 nodule with extra thyroidal extension (ETE) protruding inferiorly. I have terrible insurance. I saw some uninformed and seemingly uncaring…"

Amy O'Neill | Aug. 4, 2025

Simply Informative!

"Jen's YouTube page, Podcast, and FB community has been very information and has helped me to navigate the complexities of thyroid nodules. I took a deep dive into her interviews with doctors/experts …"

Lakeitha King | Sept. 8, 2025
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