Ileana Vargas, MD

Pediatric Endocrinology
Endocrinology
More specialties
Accepting New Patients
Treats Children
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Overview

Dr. Vargas specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and is an engaged educator. Dr Vargas joined our faculty in 1998. She has played an active role in the clinical care of pediatric patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center (NBDC), where she was an integral part in the establishment of its Pediatric component. Her work has focused on curriculum development for patient education in diabetes management and most recently in nutrition education. These efforts include hands-on and virtual cooking demonstrations as well as contributing to the NBDC monthly newsletter topics such as incorporating healthful foods and treats that can help maintain or improve blood sugar control. Dr Vargas participated in the establishment of a Pediatric Obesity Center, now called the Program for Overweight Education and Reduction (POWER) Clinic. She is involved in several ongoing clinical trials; recruiting patients from the community to participate in efforts to promote and study changes in lifestyle and their effect on childhood obesity.

Dr. Vargas received a Master of Science in Nutrition at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University 2/2017. Her thesis research addressed childhood obesity prevention and management in an academic teaching center with a specific focus on resident education. Her findings lead to her involvement in curricular development for the medical student Pediatric Clerkship curriculum in nutrition and obesity which commenced July 2017. She is also co-chairing a committee on Developing a Pediatric Residency Training Curriculum in Nutrition and Obesity since 2018. Dr. Vargas and Dr. John Rausch worked with two residents on their scholarly projects on Culinary Medicine and focusing on the concept of Food as Medicine and are working on integrating their findings to improve outpatient care. In addition, she is involved with Kyle Murray, RD, CDE from NYP-CHALK in giving a monthly nutrition education workshop to the pediatric residents during their outpatient clinical rotation “Social Determinants of Health, Food Insecurity and Introduction to Culinary Medicine” where the residents get to do hands-on cooking demonstrations. She truly feels that Nutrition in our current environment needs to be well taught and that improving our diet quality can prevent and treat diseases such as diabetes. She is currently pursuing a Culinary Medicine Specialist Certification with expected completion spring 2021.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Child and Adolescent Obesity
  • Pediatric Diabetes

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics at CUMC

Hospital Affiliations

  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

Languages

  • Spanish

Gender

  • Female

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Virtual Visits/Telehealth

Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.

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Phone Appointments

New and Existing Patients:

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Location(s)

1150 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Primary

Insurance Accepted

Aetna

  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • NY Signature
  • Student Health

Affinity Health Plan

  • Medicaid Managed Care

Amerigroup of New Jersey

  • New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)

Amida Care

  • Special Needs

Cigna

  • EPO
  • Great West (National)
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO

Emblem/GHI

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Emblem/HIP

  • ConnectiCare
  • EPO
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Select Care (Exchange)
  • Vytra

Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan

Fidelis Care

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Healthfirst

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Leaf (Exchange)
  • Medicare Managed Care

Local 1199

  • Local 1199
  • NYP Employee Plan

MagnaCare (National)

  • MagnaCare

Medicare

  • Railroad
  • Traditional Medicare

Multiplan

  • Multiplan

MVP Health Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Quality Health Management

  • Quality Health Management

UnitedHealthcare

  • Compass (Exchange)
  • Empire Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid (Community Plan)
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford HMO
  • Oxford Liberty
  • POS
  • PPO

VNSNY CHOICE

  • SelectHealth

WellCare

  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)

World Trade Center Health Plan

  • World Trade Center Health Plan

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Yeshiva University
  • Internship: Babies & Children's Hospital - Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
  • Residency: Babies & Children's Hospital - Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
  • Fellowship: Mount Sinai Hospital

Board Certifications

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor

Research

Dr. Vargas specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and is an active educator. Dr Vargas joined our faculty in 1998. She has played an active role in the clinical care of pediatric patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, where she was an integral part in the establishment of its Pediatric component. Her work has focused on curriculum development for patient education in diabetes management and most recently nutrition education. Dr Vargas participated in the establishment of a Pediatric Obesity Center, now called the Program for Overweight Education and Reduction (POWER) Clinic. She is involved in several ongoing clinical trials; recruiting patients from the community to participate in efforts to promote and study changes in lifestyle and their effect on childhood obesity.

Dr. Vargas received a Master of Science in Nutrition at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University 2/2017. Her thesis research addressed childhood obesity prevention and management in an academic teaching center with a specific focus on resident education. Her findings lead to her involvement in curricular development for the medical student Pediatric Clerkship curriculum in nutrition and obesity which commenced July 2017. She is also co-chairing the newly formed committee on Developing a Pediatric Residency Training Curriculum in Nutrition and Obesity since 2018. Dr. Vargas and Dr. John Rausch are working with two residents on their scholarly projects on Culinary Medicine and focusing on the concept of Food as Medicine. She truly feels that Nutrition in our current environment needs to be well taught and that improving our diet quality can prevent and treat diseases such as diabetes. She is currently pursing a Culinary Medicine Specialist Certification.

Research Interests

  • CHONY-Chefs-Culinary Medicine Teaching Kitchen Project
  • Food Insecurity and Diabetes Distress in Children with both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
  • Nutrition Curriculum Development for Pediatric Residency Program
  • Prevention of excessive weight gain in children leading to Type 2 Diabetes