Service
Faculty in the section of Pediatric Endocrinology are experts in the treatment of the full range of hormonal disorders in children and adolescents. Major clinical programs include:
Comprehensive Diabetes Care - The Chicago Children’s Diabetes Center is a 20-year joint effort of the University of Chicago and La Rabida Children’s Hospital. This center provides comprehensive diabetes care to children and adolescents with all types of diabetes, including rare and difficult to treat cases. The center’s multidisciplinary team is currently following approximately 800 children in its outpatient clinics. Individual diabetes management plans are developed for each patient which may include medical management through medicine as well as lifestyle changes such as exercise, dietary changes and weight loss.
Weight Management - Our Endocrinology service offers a “fit matters” program for children struggling with severe weight problems. Through this program, a team works with children to help them develop a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.
Teaching
The training program in Pediatric Endocrinology at The University of Chicago trains pediatric physician-scientists in the investigation of endocrine diseases. This program is funded by an NIH T32 award in Pediatric Endocrinology and is ACGME accredited. The Training Faculty carry out a broad range of endocrine-related research supported by a substantial base of NIH funding and are members of several University Departments: Pediatrics, Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Human Genetics and Health Studies.
The program emphasizes all aspects of pediatric endocrinology including disorders of growth and development, puberty, obesity, the thyroid, and diabetes. There is a required core curriculum consisting of courses in research methodology, molecular biology, genetics and epidemiology and statistical analysis of research data. Training mentors have NIH-funded research programs that can support the trainees investigational experience over a two year period. In summary, the strengths of this research training program are collegial and successful mentors, an active general clinical research center, a committed executive committee, and a rich academic environment at The University of Chicago.
Research
Our distinguished Endocrinology faculty conduct basic science and clinical research in the areas of:
Thyroid metabolism and thyroid disorders
Diabetes and related metabolic disorders
Reproductive endocrinology
Hormonal rhythms and pulsatile hormonal secretion
Disorders of bone metabolism
Neuroendocrinology
Genetics of endocrine diseases
Descriptive epidemiology and natural history of childhood diabetes
The Section holds the distinction of being one of the top three Pediatric Endocrine Sections in the US in terms of NIH funding. A Specialized Cooperative Centers Program for Reproductive Research (SCPRR), one of only six national U54 centers for research into reproductive disorders is administered within the section and is the only such program located in a Pediatric department.
Visit the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital website for more information about our pediatric endocrinology clinical care services.
