Endocrinology Fellowship

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About the Endocrinology Fellowship

The Endocrinology Fellowship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is a three-year program intended to prepare trainees for a career in academic pediatric endocrinology. The program combines clinical endocrinology and diabetes care with excellent opportunities for clinical and laboratory-based research within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and through close liaisons within the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, The Saban Research Institute of CHLA and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The fellowship program has a rich history of excellence in endocrinology and diabetes extending back almost 30 years.

Learn More About the Program

The Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism has been named one of the top seven programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report for the last eight years in a row. With 16 full-time and three part-time attending physicians, three PhD research faculty, four full-time nurse practitioners, as well as many nurse educators, the fellows are exposed to a wealth of expertise in various aspects of pediatric endocrinology. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to interact with other highly regarded and productive divisions in the hospital that care for patients with diverse pediatric issues. It is the intent of the program that fellows will be well-trained in diagnosis and management of endocrine disorders of childhood, be able to teach and lecture on endocrinology and diabetes, and be familiar with the methodology and interpretation of routine endocrine and relevant genetic laboratory studies. Another critical component of the fellowship is to be able to design and carry out clinical and laboratory investigations.

Clinical Service

The fellow will spend 12 months during the fellowship as the "on-service fellow." They are on service six months in year one, four months in year two, and two months in year three.

There are three service rotations:

  • Endocrine service – fellows do inpatient endocrine consultation and follow inpatient primary endocrine patients
  • Diabetes services – fellow does inpatient diabetes consultations and follows inpatient primary diabetes patients
  • Outpatient service – fellow sees urgent new diabetes and endocrine patients in clinic.

Each fellow will spend about 50% of their service time on Endocrine service, and the other 50% divided equally between Diabetes and Outpatient services, all under the supervision of an service faculty.

Outpatient Clinic

When off service, fellows will attend two clinics per week including their own continuity clinic. The continuity clinic will carry on through all 3 years of fellowship and will be staffed by a dedicated attending physician. Incorporated in teaching clinic schedule are our multidisciplinary clinics including comprehensive CAH and hyperandrogenism clinic, Turner syndrome clinic, EMPOWER weight management clinic, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes clinics, rare bone disorder clinic, neuro-oncology Clinic, PCOS clinic, and thyroid nodule clinic. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to do rotations in other CHLA divisions, including but not limited to Lipid clinic (Cardiology), Transgender clinic (Adolescent Medicine) and Genetics clinic.

Call

Fellows cover the service on weeknights and weekends all 3 years, in equal rotation with one another, resulting in being "on call" one in every six or seven nights and weekends. Call is primarily from home, though weekend call involves morning inpatient rounds, and fellows are expected to be available to come into the hospital for very rare emergencies.

Research

Fellows engage in research throughout their training (for a total of 22 months while "off service"). In their first year, fellows will choose their research project and mentors, in coordination with the fellowship director. They will lay the groundwork for their project(s), and choose their Scholarship Oversight Committee, which will monitor their scholarly progress throughout their fellowship. During the second and third years, fellows will focus primarily on their research project(s). Clinical research projects are expected to be hypothesis-driven and rigorously performed. Bench research should involve a discrete project in which the fellow does the majority of the hands-on work. Both types of research should lead to one or more first-authored publications for the fellow. Fellows are encouraged to attend and present their research at institutional, local, and national scientific meetings, and the division provides clinical coverage and financial support for these activities. Fellows are required to apply for at least one grant during their fellowship.

Our Research Projects

Endocrinology fellows have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of clinical and laboratory-based research projects. Fellows develop their own projects, building on one of a number of ongoing projects within the division, or with one of collaborators in other divisions at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Below is a list of recent fellow research projects in the past 5 years:

  • Gamma Glutamyl Transferase Levels Correlate with Hepatic Fibrosis Staging in Pediatric Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (diabetes)
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Endocrinopathy in Pediatric Oncology Patients (endocrinology)
  • Using Games to Teach Screening for Endocrine Late-Effects of Cancer Treatment (medical education)
  • Cognition and Development in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (endocrinology)
  • Decreased Motor Skills and Working Memory in Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (endocrinology)
  • Gender Diversity and Eating Behaviors in Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes (diabetes)
  • Impact of Anti-Obesity Medications on Glycemic Profiles Captured on CGM (metabolism)
  • Metabolic and surgical Outcomes in x-linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets (endocrinology)
  • Time limited eating in new-onset Type 1 diabetes: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effect on Beta-cell Function (diabetes)
  • CGM Use in Adolescent Time Limited Eating Pilot Study (metabolism)

Publications (last 5 years)

2024

Parish A, Cheung C, Ryabets-Lienhard A, Zamiara P, Kim MS. Cushing Syndrome in Childhood. Pediatr Rev. 1;45:125-140, 2024.

2023

Kim, A., Nguyen, J., Babaei, M., Kim, A., Geller, D., Vidmar, A. A Narrative Review: Phentermine and Topiramate for the Treatment of Pediatric Obesity. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. 14: 125-140, 2023.

Goldman VE, Espinoza, J.C., & Vidmar, A. P. Inpatient Medical Management of Severe Pediatric Obesity: Literature Review and Case Reports. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2023; 11: 85.

Berman C, Naguib M, Hegedus E, Vidmar AP. Topiramate for Weight Management in Children with Severe Obesity. Child Obes. 2023 Jun;19(4):219-225.

Berman C, Vidmar AP, Chao LC. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth. touchREV Endocrinol. 2023 May;19(1):38-45.

Smith J, Hegedus E, Naguib M, Goldman V, Moss L, Vidmar AP. Parental Perceptions of Medication Use for the Treatment of Obesity in Youth. Child Obes. 2023 Sep;19(6):428-433.

2022

Tsai D, Flores Garcia J, Fogel JL, Wee CP, Reid MW, Raymond JK. Diabetes Technology Experiences Among Latinx and Non-Latinx Youth with Type 1 Diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022 Jul;16(4):834-843

Shum BJ, Kim MS, Kondra K, Hammoudeh JA, Strom C, Ryabets-Lienhard A. A Unique Case of Aggressive Central Giant Cell Granuloma in a 10-Year-Old Boy With 16p13.11 Microdeletion Syndrome. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec;10:23247096221123146.

Guiffre D, Brien E, Shon W, Geffner ME. A Rare Case of Diffuse-type Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor in a Teenager With Noonan Syndrome. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2022 Mar 1;44(2):e557-e560.

Naguib MN, Hegedus E, Raymond JK, Goran MI, Salvy SJ, Wee CP, Durazo-Arvizu R, Moss L, Vidmar AP. Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adolescents With Obesity: Monitoring of Glucose Profiles, Glycemic Excursions, and Adherence to Time Restricted Eating Programs. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Feb 25;13:841838.

Weber J, Tanawattanacharoen VK, Seagroves A, Liang MC, Koppin CM, Ross HM, Bachega TASS, Geffner ME, Serrano-Gonzalez M, Bhullar G, Kim MS. Low Adrenomedullary Function Predicts Acute Illness in Infants With Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jan 1;107(1):e264-e271.

2021

Marpuri I, Ra E, Naguib MN, Vidmar AP. Weight management in youth with rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation, autonomic dysregulation, and neural crest tumor (ROHHAD-NET): literature search and case report. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Dec 23;35(4):543-548.

Vidmar AP, Naguib M, Raymond JK, Salvy SJ, Hegedus E, Wee CP, Goran MI. Time-Limited Eating and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adolescents with Obesity: A Pilot Study. Nutrients. 13(11):3697, 2021.

Hegedus E, Salvy SJ, Wee CP, Naguib M, Raymond JK, Fox DS, Vidmar AP. Use of continuous glucose monitoring in obesity research: A scoping review. Obes Res Clin Pract. 15(5):431-438, 2021.

Goldman VE, Naguib MN, Vidmar AP. Anti-Obesity Medication Use in Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome: Case Review and Literature Search. J Clin Med. 2021 Sep 30;10(19):4540.

Seagroves A, Ross HM, Vidmar AP, Geffner ME, Kim WS, Hwang D, Borzutzky C, Fraga NR, Kim MS. Weight Loss during Topiramate Treatment in a Severely Obese Adolescent with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Migraine. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. Epub 2021 Aug 23.

Shum B, Georgia S. The Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweetener Consumption in the Pediatric Populations: What We Know, What We Don't, and What We Need to Learn. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Apr 1;12:625415.

Serrano-Gonzalez M, Herting MM, Lim SL, Sullivan NJ, Kim R, Espinoza J, Koppin CM, Javier JR, Kim MSǂ, Luo Sǂǂ. Developmental Changes in Food Perception and Preference. Front Psychol. 2021 12:654200.

Chan GC, Guiffre D, Kim MS, Garingo A. Hyponatremia, Metabolic Acidosis, and Abnormal Newborn Screen in a Preterm Neonate. Neoreviews. 2021 Nov;22(11):e767-e769.

2020

Naguib MN, Raymond JK, Vidmar AP. New onset diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis in a child with multisystem inflammatory syndrome due to COVID-12. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Nov 12;34(1):147-150.

Vidmar AP, Goran MI, Naguib M, Fink C, Wee CP, Hegedus E, Lopez K, Gonzalez J, Raymond JK. Time limited eating in adolescents with obesity (time LEAd): Study protocol. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Aug;95:106082.

Kim MSǂ, Luo Sǂ, Campbell C, Azad A, Felix K, Cabeen R, Belcher B, Kim R, Serrano-Gonzalez M, Herting MM. Prefrontal and amygdala brain morphology are associated with dietary decision-making in children and adolescents. Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Dec 3;14:563415.

Nave G, Koppin CM, Manfredi D, Richards G, Watson S, Geffner ME, Yong JE, Kim R, Ross HM, Serrano-Gonzalez M, Kim MS. No Difference in 2D:4D between Youth with Prenatal Androgen Exposure due to Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Controls. Horm Behav. 2020 Dec 9;128:104908.

2019

Akhtar Ali S, Mathalikunnel A, Bhardwaj V, Braskett M, Pitukcheewanont P. Nutritional hypophosphatemic rickts secondary to neocate use. Osteoporos Int. 2019 Sep; 30(9): 1887-1891

Akhtar Ali S, Kang H, Olney R, Ramos-Platt L, Ryabets-Lienhard A, Cheung C, Georgia S, Pitukcheewanont P. Evaluating RANKL and OPG levels in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Osteoporos Int. 2019 Nov;30(11):2283-2288.

Akhtar Ali S, Kang H, Olney R, Ramos-Platt L, Ryabets-Lienhard A, Georgia S, Pitukcheewanont P. Quantifying RANKL and OPG levels in healthy children: A large cross-sectional analysis. Bone. 2019 Oct;127:215-219.

Vidmar AP, Fink C, Torres B, Manzanarez B, Mittelman SD, Wee CP, Borzutzky C. Energy Management for Personalized Weight Reduction (EMPOWER) Program: Three-Year Outcome Data. Adv Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;2(1):47-54. Epub 2019 Mar 10.

Vidmar AP, Pretlow R, Borzutzky C, Wee CP, Fox DS, Fink C, Mittleman SD. An Addiction Model-Based Mobile Health Weight Loss Intervention in Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatr Obes. 2019; 14(2):e12464.

Vidmar AP, Salvy SJ, Pretlow R, Mittelman SD, Wee CP, Fink C, Fox DS, Raymond JK. And Addiction-Based Mobile Health Weight Loss Intervention: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019;78:11-19

Bakhach M, Reid MW, Pyatak EA, Berget C, Cain C, Thomas JF, Klingensmith GJ, Raymond JK. Home Telemedicine (CoYoT1 Clinic): A Novel Approach to Improve Psychosocial Outcomes in Young Adults with Diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2019:45(4):420-430..

Other Educational Experience

Fellows have access to a variety of educational experiences during their fellowship, including, but not limited to:

  • Thursday morning divisional educational conference (invited speakers, case presentations, journal club)
  • Endocrine brown bag lecture series (monthly)
  • Pediatric endocrinology board review (bi-weekly)
  • Research meetings with fellowship director (bi-monthly)
  • Fellows’ core curriculum (covers general education, research and professionalism for all Children’s Hospital Los Angeles subspecialty fellows)
  • Responsible conduct of research
  • Endo-Urology, Endo-Radiology, and Endo-Genetics joint conferences
  • Thyroid tumor board (quarterly)
  • Clinical & Translational Research Study Design Course (8 weeks long)
  • Divisional research updates
  • Diabetes camp
  • Pediatric grand rounds
  • The Saban Research Institute chalk talks
  • Patient education conference participation, e.g., the annual meeting of the MAGIC Foundation
  • Access to graduate courses and masters programs at USC with tuition remission
  • "Pre-tending" Week

Meet Our Faculty

Please click here to see our faculty.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The application cycle opens in July for the following academic year.

Program Fast Facts

  • ACGME Accredited: Yes
  • Fellows per year: 2
  • Application Deadline: October
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Postgraduate Training Required: 3 years
  • U.S. Citizenship requirement: accept citizenship, green card, and J1 Visa
  • Salary Minimums:  
    Post Graduate Year 4: $84,028 minimum
    Post Graduate Year 5: $87,394 minimum
    Post Graduate Year 6: $90,642 minimum
    Post Graduate Year 7+: Compensation will be at the discretion of each division
  • Benefits Include: Health and dental insurance, 14 days paid vacation + 6 protected sick days, yearly educational stipend, monthly meal stipend, housing stipend ($8,000/year) and 401(k) matching up to 3%

Where Do Fellows Go When They Graduate?

Fellows who have graduated our program obtained faculty positions at:

  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Brown University
  • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
  • Children’s Hospital Oakland
  • Children’s Hospital Orange County
  • Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara
  • Kaiser, Santa Clara
  • Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles
  • New York University
  • Seattle Children's Hospital
  • Stanford University
  • UCSF Fresno
  • University of Athens
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Virginia
  • White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles

Support

In 2018, The CHLA Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship was the recipient of the three-year Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation Award, which will support fellows and their research mentors who are performing research in areas of diabetes and/or obesity.

The Fellowship has also been supported in part by generous donations from the Homer and Gloria Harvey Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Sherry Corday, Mr. and Mrs. David and Meredith Kaplan, Ms. Monica Lester, Mr. Paul Lester, The Francine Kaufman Endowment, The Marcled Foundation, the Hurlbut-Johnson Charitable Trust, and a grant from Genentech.