Pediatric Endocrine Program and Diabetes Center

Every patient of the Pediatric Endocrine Unit has a personal endocrinologist. We work collaboratively with primary care physicians, other specialty caregivers, and—most importantly—patients and their families to deliver the highest quality of care.

Our physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all endocrine-related conditions of infants, children and adolescents, including:

• Pediatric diabetes: We provide comprehensive care to children and adolescents with both type 1 (juvenile-onset; insulin-dependent) and type 2 (adult-onset; non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. The Diabetes Center offers an individualized approach to each child with diabetes and to the family.
• Disorders of calcium and bone metabolism: Our staff is nationally and internationally known for expertise in the field of calcium, vitamin D and bone metabolism. We provide state-of-the-art interpretation of bone density tests in children and teenagers, and a comprehensive discussion of strategies to improve bone density in a variety of conditions. We work closely with our colleagues in Pediatric Nephrology to provide expertise in rare disorders of calcium and phosphate metabolism.
• Disorders of the pituitary/neuroendocrine disorders: The Pediatric Neuroendocrine Service works closely with neurosurgery and neuroradiology to assure up-to-date diagnostic studies and treatment for children with various pituitary disorders, including Cushing’s disease, acromegaly and disorders of growth related to pituitary disorders.
• Disorders of growth: John Crawford, MD, Chief of the Pediatric Endocrine Unit from 1963 to 1990, was among the first physicians in the world to treat children with growth failure with human growth hormone. The unit remains dedicated to offering patients with growth disorders state-of-the-art evaluation and therapy. This includes opportunities for selected patients to participate in clinical trials.
• Disorders of puberty: We have particular expertise in caring for children with reproductive endocrine disorders and work closely with the adult Reproductive Endocrine Unit. The Pediatric Reproductive Endocrine Service provides support for children and adolescents with disorders of puberty including precocious and delayed puberty, and abnormalities of pubertal development hirsutism and polycystic ovarian disease. This service was one of the first to offer effective treatment to children with sexual precocity.
• Thyroid disorders: Our doctors are Harvard Medical School faculty who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and long-term care of patients affected by a range of thyroid disorders.
• Adrenal disorders: Doctors in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology specialize in the treatment of children affected by adrenal disorders. We follow our patients over the long term and focus on improving their health and lifestyle.
• Disorders of sexual development: We provide medical, psychological and surgical support in an empathic and comprehensive manner for children born with incomplete genital or sexual development, chromosomal problems such as Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome, and adrenal disorders leading to genital abnormalities.

At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, we know that the time of your child’s diagnosis and treatment is a very stressful one and we strive to provide an open, welcoming environment. We believe that no one knows a child as well as the parent does; parents, along with primary care providers, become our partners in a child's care and have an active voice in all treatment plans.

Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship
The Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children spans three years of training and prepares our fellows for careers as leaders in academic medicine and also clinical practice. Learn more.

Pediatric Endocrine-Neuroendocrine-Sports Endocrine Research
Research within the Pediatric Endocrine-Neuroendocrine-Sports Endocrine Lab aims to further medical knowledge about common endocrine issues in athletes and girls with low-weight eating disorders. In particular, we focus our efforts on establishing findings that lead to the adaptation and improvement of medical care for female athletes and young girls and women with eating disorders. Learn more.

Pediatric Endocrinology Research Lab 
The goal of our laboratory research is to find ways to generate regulated insulin secretion in cells or tissues for pancreatic b-cell replacement therapy in diabetes. Learn more.

Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Peak Bone Mass

Eligibility Criteria

• Girls ages 14-22 years with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa

Study Details

• Bone density test, nutritional and hormonal evaluations
• Short medical history and questionnaires
• 10 study visits in the initial 12 months of the study plus a single visit one year later
• Payment for participation up to $1000 and parking / transportation expenses offered

For more information please contact Dr. Madhu Misra (617) 724-5602 or Meghan Slattery (617) 643-0267 (email: mslattery@mgh.harvard.edu).

Do you have or think you may have an eating disorder?

We are conducting a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital to investigate eating patterns in children, teens, and young adults with low-weight eating disorders.

As part of this study, we are using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to investigate the relationship between hormones, brain activity, and appetite.

Compensation up to $550

The study includes:

• Measurement of hormones and safety labs
• Physical and psychological assessments
• Neuroimaging MRIs
• Bone xray
• Neurocognitive Tasks (optional)
• 4 visits over 18 months

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• are female
• are 10 to 21 years old

Contact Meghan Slattery, NP, at mslattery@partners.org or (617) 643-0267.

Bone study in overweight teenagers and young adults

Seeking overweight girls and boys 14-21 years old

Our Mission: To understand the effect of weight loss surgery versus no surgery (usual care) on bone density and strength and body composition.

6 total visits over 26 months, including:

• DXA, CT, and MRI scans
• Physical assessments
• Hormone evaluation

Up to $1200 stipend

If interested, call Ryan Woolley at 617-724-6046 or email ANEresearch@partners.org.

Seeking girls with type 1 diabetes for a research study of bone density

We are interested in the effect of type 1 diabetes on bone density. We are looking for girls ages 10-16 years with type 1 diabetes who are otherwise healthy in order to learn how their bone density changes over time.

Participation includes:

• 3 visits to Massachusetts General Hospital over 2 years
• Blood tests and bone density scans (x-rays)
• Compensation of up to $150

If interested, contact Deborah Mitchell, MD
Pediatric Endocrine Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
617-724-2034
healthybones@partners.org

Healthy girls wanted for a research study of bone density

We are interested in the effect of type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) on bone density. We are looking for healthy girls ages 10-16 years without diabetes in order to compare them to girls with diabetes.

Participation includes:

• 3 visits to Massachusetts General Hospital over 2 years
• blood tests and bone density scans (x-rays)
• compensation of up to $150

If interested, contact Deborah Mitchell, MD
Pediatric Endocrine Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
617-724-2034
healthybones@partners.org

View the full collection of patient resources from the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Center here.

Values

• The MassGeneral for Children Pediatric Endocrine Unit’s values are seated in the respect we show each other, our patients and their families. Through kindness and dedication and with the highest integrity we strive to provide the most equitable, patient-centric, holistic, and state-of-the-art care for children, families, and our community.

Vision

The vision of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology is to:

• Provide the highest quality of compassionate, comprehensive, coordinated, and value-based health care
• Train exemplary clinicians, researchers, educators and leaders
• Advance knowledge through cutting-edge and innovative research
• Collaborate with our community to advocate for patients and families and to ensure that our care meets our community’s needs

Mission

The mission of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology is to:

• To provide individualized, family-centered, team-oriented endocrine care for our patients and their families
• To continue our unit’s tradition of developing clinical and scientific leaders in pediatric endocrinology
• To advance research into innovative technologies and personalized care and to bring these advancements to our patients and their families