Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

Division Chief

Overview

The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism provides comprehensive care to patients with endocrinological issues from infancy to young adulthood. Our faculty provide specialized care for patients with a range of disorders including thyroid, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, growth, puberty, obesity, bone, pituitary, and diabetes. We provide care for our patients from diagnosis until adulthood and are familiar with all of the issues that may arise for these patients. We are also committed to clinical research in diabetes, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature adrenarche, and bone disorders.

Clinical Services

Our division has numerous areas of expertise. In addition to providing general endocrinological care we have several specialty services. Our Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program provides endocrine care to obese adolescents who are considering or have undergone bariatric surgery. Our pediatric bone mineral density service specializes in evaluating and treating children with bone disease. The Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center focuses on treatment of diabetes and offers an insulin pump program and educational programs for children with diabetes, their families, and caregivers. We are a designated site for the New York State Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and Newborn Thyroid Screening Program.

Research

Our division’s focus on research is evidenced in our ongoing NIH-sponsored T32 training grant. This grant provide funds for fellows in our training program to formulate and execute a research plan under the guidance of a mentor. Most of the fellows who have completed our program have continued in academic positions and have obtained their own NIH-sponsored grants. We have ongoing research studies in adolescent bariatric surgery, polycystic ovary syndrome, and bone disease. The Berrie Center is involved in multiple national studies including Trialnet and TODAY.

Division members have published primary and co-authored papers in many leading endocrinology and pediatric journals including Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fertility and Sterility, Obesity and Pediatrics. The endocrinology faculty have additionally published invited editorials, book chapters, and review articles.

Education

The overarching goal of our fellowship program is to educate and train our fellows to become physician-scientists who are experts and leaders in the field. This is accomplished by exposure to both clinical and research-based endocrinology. All fellows must complete a clinical year in which they oversee the inpatient and outpatient endocrinology services and the newborn screening program. During this year they receive intensive training in all aspects of endocrinology in a diverse quaternary care medical center. The wide and unusual range of endocrinological disorders seen at our medical center and the experience and enthusiasm of our faculty lead to unparalleled clinical training in endocrinology. The fellows also must complete two research years dedicated to a project in their area of interest. Fellows select a mentor with whom they formulate a research plan. The fellows have the advantage of access to multiple University-based educational activities that may enhance their research activities.

The fellowship training program was started in 1998 and is fully accredited by the ACGME. Our fellows graduate with high-level skills and experience, and secure positions in top academic institutions throughout the United States.

History

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Columbia University Irving Medical Center was established in 1955. Since then the division has grown and currently has 10 full time and two part time attending physicians who all take part in clinical research, fellow education, and patient care.