Need for Skilled EndocrinologistsCurrently, more than 176,000 people aged 20 years or younger in the United States have Type 1 and 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will be diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetimes. In urban centers such as ours, approximately 20% of children newly diagnosed with diabetes have the Type 2 variety, which disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latino Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans. Additional endocrinology disorders include growth hormone deficiency, which occurs in nearly one out of every 10,000 children. LeadershipIn 2002, the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism recruited Mitchell Geffner, MD, to be the medical director of the Fellowship Program, which has become one of the largest programs in the country for training pediatric endocrinologists. Under Dr. Geffner’s leadership, the program expanded from one fellow to simultaneously training up to six fellows. These specialists will go on to conduct research and practice clinical care in hospitals across the country and around the world, thereby improving healthcare for thousands of children. Recruitment and SelectionThe Fellowship Program uses a rigorous recruitment and selection process that prepares the best physicians for a career in academic pediatric endocrinology. Specialized training is important, because children are not simply small adults. Research shows that health outcomes for critically and chronically ill children are significantly better when treated by a pediatrician or pediatric specialist, rather than a general physician or specialist. Fellowship Research ActivitiesThe three-year Fellowship Program combines clinical endocrinology care with research experience. Approximately one-third of a fellow’s time is dedicated to clinical service, while two-thirds of a fellow's time is used for clinical and laboratory research. First Year Read More about our Fellows' Research Activities |