Vidhu Thaker, MD
Overview
I became a pediatric endocrinologist because of my desire to make a difference in the lives of children with obesity. The subspecialty training gave me tools to understand the complex systems of hormones and environmental influences on weight control, to better help my patients. My journey took me to Boston Children’s Hospital followed by return to New York and my current position at Columbia University.
I provide care for children of all ages with obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, I have expertise in other endocrine conditions, such as thyroid disease, growth hormone disorders, adrenal disorders, and bone related abnormalities. I enjoy working at Columbia West Side Pediatrics on 86th Street with a close-knit group of clinicians and staff who care deeply about the health and well-being of children and their families.
There are many ways to manage endocrine conditions, and input from the family is one of the key pillars of care. I believe in empowering patients and their families with knowledge about their conditions so that they can share in decision making. Working together, we make it easier to navigate tough decisions and challenging paths.
My research is focused on the genetic causes of early onset severe weight gain in children and adults. We are aiming to identify novel genetic causes of excessive weight gain, with a special focus on children from diverse backgrounds. We invite families to join in research efforts that require a large number of participants. Additionally, we are studying a rare condition called ROHHAD (rapid onset obesity, hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation and autonomic dysfunction) syndrome, where children have severe weight gain early in life and a variety of other issues. My work extends into the study of physiological changes after weight loss surgery in adults and adolescents. The long-term goal of this work is to improve our understanding of weight gain and loss, to allow development of new therapies.
Aside from clinical practice and research, I teach doctors in training, students from Institute of Human Nutrition, and students from the Mailman School of Public Health. I coach children from middle and high school in science and scientific methods. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and teenage children exploring the woods and mountains in New York and New England.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Adrenal Disorder
- Child and Adolescent Obesity
- Clinical Molecular Genetics
- Growth Disorders
- Metabolic Bone Disease
- Thyroid Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Languages
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Marathi
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
Connect Patient Portal
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- 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
- Medicaid Managed Care
- 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
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
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)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MD, LTM Medical College of Bombay University (India)
- Residency: Jacobi Medical Center
- Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
Committees, Societies, Councils
Pediatric Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society
The American Society of Human Genetics
Board Certifications
- Pediatrics
Honors & Awards
Louis V. Gerstner Scholar Award, 2019-2021
Research
My research is directed towards understanding genetic underpinnings of weight regulation and ways to impact these.
The research in Dr. Thaker's lab focuses on molecular genetics of childhood obesity. We strive to understand the genetic architecture across diverse populations with the long term goal of bringing precision medicine therapy to patients.
Clinical Trials
NCT01998750: Study to Investigate Genetic Causes of Severe Early Childhood Onset Obesity (GECO)
This family-based study aims to investigate genetic causes of early childhood obesity. The study enrolls children and young adults with severe early onset obesity diagnosed prior to 6 years of age. The investigators will ask questions about the health and eating behavior of the participants, and perform a brief physical examination. The investigators will collect saliva or blood to perform genetic testing from the participants and invite family members to enroll in the study.
NCT02602769: Whole Transcriptome Profiling and Metabolic Phenotyping in Children With ROHHAD Syndrome
Rapid onset Obesity, Hypoventilation, Hypothalamic dysfunction and Autonomic Dysregulation (ROHHAD) is a syndrome named in 2007. The hallmark of the syndrome is the rapid onset obesity and dysregulation of central ventilation. There is little information about the metabolic changes that lead to the rapid onset obesity in these children. The investigators would like to study the metabolic phenotype of these children to understand the disturbances in energy balance that lead to the rapid onset obesity.
Selected Publications
Nichols P, Pan Y, May B, Pavlicova M, Mencin A, Thaker VV. Causal mediation analysis of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in children with obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. medRxiv. 2019:19004242
Thaker VV*, Osganian SK, de Ferranti SD, Sonneville KR, Cheng JK, Feldman HA, Richmond TK. Behavioral and Clinical correlates of children with overweight and obesity, 18 July 2019. Preprint (Version 1) available at Research Square
Mandl KD, Glauser T, Krantz ID, Avillach P, Bartels A, Beggs AH, Biswas S, Bourgeois FT, Corsmo J, Dauber A, Devkota B, Fleisher GR, Heath AP, Helbig I, Hirschhorn JN, Kilbourn J, Kong SW, Kornetsky S, Majzoub JA, Marsolo K, Martin LJ, Nix J, Schwarzhoff A, Stedman J, Strauss A, Sund KL, Taylor DM, White PS, Marsh E, Grimberg A, Hawkes C; Genomics Research and Innovation Network. The Genomics Research and Innovation Network: creating an interoperable, federated, genomics learning system. Genet Med. 2019 Sep 4. doi: 10.1038/s41436-019-0646-3. [Epub ahead of print] Erratum in: Genet Med. 2019 Nov 27; PubMed PMID: 31481752.
Thaker VV, Lage AE, Kumari G, Silvera VM, Cohen LE. Clinical Course of Nonfunctional Pituitary Microadenoma in Children: A Single-Center Experience. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Dec 1;104(12):5906-5912. doi: 10.1210/jc.2019-01252. PubMed PMID: 31390015; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6800531.
Ranzenhofer LM, Mayer LES, Davis HA, Mielke-Maday HK, McInerney H, Korn R, Gupta N, Brown AJ, Schebendach J, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Thaker V, Chung WK, Leibel RL, Walsh BT, Rosenbaum M. The FTO Gene and Measured Food Intake in 5- to 10-Year-Old Children Without Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019 Jun;27(6):1023-1029. doi: 10.1002/oby.22464. PubMed PMID: 31119882; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6561098.
De Rosa MC, Chesi A, McCormack S, Zhou J, Weaver B, McDonald M, Christensen S, Liimatta K, Rosenbaum M, Hakonarson H, Doege CA, Grant SFA, Hirschhorn JN, Thaker VV. Characterization of Rare Variants in MC4R in African American and Latino Children With Severe Early-Onset Obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul 1;104(7):2961-2970. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-02657. PubMed PMID: 30811542; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6546308.
Thaker V, Carter B, Putman M. Recombinant growth hormone therapy for cystic fibrosis in children and young adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 17;12:CD008901. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008901.pub4. PubMed PMID: 30557452; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6517261.
Thaker VV. GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC CAUSES OF OBESITY. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2017 Fall;28(2):379-405. Review. PubMed PMID: 30416642; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6226269.
Baker-Smith CM, Flinn SK, Flynn JT, Kaelber DC, Blowey D, Carroll AE, Daniels SR, de Ferranti SD, Dionne JM, Falkner B, Gidding SS, Goodwin C, Leu MG, Powers ME, Rea C, Samuels J, Simasek M, Thaker VV, Urbina EM; SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCREENING AND MANAGEMENT OF HIGH BP IN CHILDREN. Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2018 Sep;142(3). pii: e20182096. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-2096. Epub 2018 Aug 20. PubMed PMID: 30126937.
Cherella CE, Breault DT, Thaker V, Levine BS, Smith JR. Early Identification of Primary Hypothyroidism in Neonates Exposed to Intralymphatic Iodinated Contrast: A Case Series. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Oct 1;103(10):3585-3588. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-00960. PubMed PMID: 30085021; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6179162.
Thaker VV, Galler MF, Marshall AC, Almodovar MC, Hsu HW, Addis CJ, Feldman HA, Brown RS, Levine BS. Hypothyroidism in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease Exposed to Excess Iodine. J Endocr Soc. 2017 Jul 11;1(8):1067-1078. doi: 10.1210/js.2017-00174. eCollection 2017 Aug 1. PubMed PMID: 29264559; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5686596.
Jagannath VA, Thaker V, Chang AB, Price AI. Vitamin K supplementation for cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Aug 22;8:CD008482. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008482.pub5. Review. PubMed PMID: 28829533; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6483550.
Flynn JT, Kaelber DC, Baker-Smith CM, Blowey D, Carroll AE, Daniels SR, de Ferranti SD, Dionne JM, Falkner B, Flinn SK, Gidding SS, Goodwin C, Leu MG, Powers ME, Rea C, Samuels J, Simasek M, Thaker VV, Urbina EM; SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCREENING AND MANAGEMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN. Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2017 Sep;140(3). pii: e20171904. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-1904. Epub 2017 Aug 21. Erratum in: Pediatrics. 2017 Nov 30;:. Erratum in: Pediatrics. 2018 Sep;142(3):. PubMed PMID: 28827377.
Brady CC, Thaker VV, Lingren T, Woo JG, Kennebeck SS, Namjou-Khales B, Roach A, Bickel JP, Patibandla N, Savova GK, Solti I, Holm IA, Harley JB, Kohane IS, Crimmins NA. Suboptimal Clinical Documentation in Young Children with Severe Obesity at Tertiary Care Centers. Int J Pediatr. 2016;2016:4068582. Epub 2016 Sep 6. PubMed PMID: 27698673; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5028875.
Lingren T, Thaker V, Brady C, Namjou B, Kennebeck S, Bickel J, Patibandla N, Ni Y, Van Driest SL, Chen L, Roach A, Cobb B, Kirby J, Denny J, Bailey-Davis L, Williams MS, Marsolo K, Solti I, Holm IA, Harley J, Kohane IS, Savova G, Crimmins N. Developing an Algorithm to Detect Early Childhood Obesity in Two Tertiary Pediatric Medical Centers. Appl Clin Inform. 2016 Jul 20;7(3):693-706. doi: 10.4338/ACI-2016-01-RA-0015. PubMed PMID: 27452794; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5052543.
Thaker VV, Lee F, Bottino CJ, Perry CL, Holm IA, Hirschhorn JN, Osganian SK. Impact of an Electronic Template on Documentation of Obesity in a Primary Care Clinic. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2016 Oct;55(12):1152-9. doi: 10.1177/0009922815621331. Epub 2015 Dec 15. PubMed PMID: 26676994; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4909579.
Thaker V, Haagensen AL, Carter B, Fedorowicz Z, Houston BW. Recombinant growth hormone therapy for cystic fibrosis in children and young adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 May 20;(5):CD008901. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008901.pub3. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 17;12:CD008901. PubMed PMID: 25991406.
Jagannath VA, Fedorowicz Z, Thaker V, Chang AB. Vitamin K supplementation for cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 18;1:CD008482. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008482.pub4. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Aug 22;8:CD008482. PubMed PMID: 25879106; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4441523.
Thaker VV, Esteves KM, Towne MC, Brownstein CA, James PM, Crowley L, Hirschhorn JN, Elsea SH, Beggs AH, Picker J, Agrawal PB. Whole exome sequencing identifies RAI1 mutation in a morbidly obese child diagnosed with ROHHAD syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 May;100(5):1723-30. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-4215. Epub 2015 Mar 17. PubMed PMID: 25781356; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4422892.
Shumer DE, Thaker V, Taylor GA, Wassner AJ. Severe hypercalcaemia due to subcutaneous fat necrosis: presentation, management and complications. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2014 Sep;99(5):F419-21. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306069. Epub 2014 Jun 6. PubMed PMID: 24907163; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4134364.
Thaker V, Haagensen AL, Carter B, Fedorowicz Z, Houston BW. Recombinant growth hormone therapy for cystic fibrosis in children and young adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 5;(6):CD008901. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008901.pub2. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(5):CD008901. PubMed PMID: 23737090; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4465600.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov