Pediatric Endocrinology
What does a Pediatric Endocrinologist do?
What are the career opportunities?
What Board, if any, certifies a Pediatric Endocrinologist ?
What is the lifestyle of a Pediatric Endocrinologist ?
What is the compensation of a Pediatric Endocrinologist ?
How do I become a Pediatric Endocrinologist ?
Where do I find out about available programs?
When do I apply?
Why should I choose to become a Pediatric Endocrinologist ?
Faculty Contacts
Proposed Electives
What does a Pediatric Endocrinologist do?
A Pediatric Endocrinologist attends to the health of children and adolescents who have metabolic or other hormonal disorders. Pediatric Endocrinologists treat children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, disorders of growth and puberty, obesity, differences of sex development, bone and mineral disturbances, hypoglycemia, and other disorders relating to the adrenal, parathyroid, thyroid, and pituitary glands. Additionally, pediatric endocrinologists may participate in the care of children exploring their gender.
What are the career opportunities?
Pediatric Endocrinologists practice in a diverse array of settings ranging from a full academic practice based in a university medical center or freestanding children’s hospital, including major time commitment to basic, clinical biomedical, education or QI/QA research, to a more patient-based clinical practice within an academic center, to a private group or individual-based hospital or office-based practice. Some pediatric endocrinologists choose a career in industry.
What board certifies a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
The American Board of Pediatrics offers a certification exam for Pediatric Endocrinology. Applicants must first be Board Certified in Pediatrics.
What is the lifestyle of a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
The specialty of pediatric endocrinology is predominantly an outpatient subspecialty in which disorders of growth and diabetes predominate. There are variable numbers of inpatient consultations and admissions, but, in general, relatively few emergencies (outside of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis). As such, the practice of our specialty may allow ample time for outside pursuits. The actual amount of available free time will ultimately depend on the individual’s work location, involvement in outside professional activities, and efficiency.
What is the compensation of a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
This will depend on the type of practice (private vs academic), geographical location, and time since completion of fellowship. Salaries also vary by practice setting, with typically higher salaries in the private sector.
How do I become a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
To become a Pediatric Endocrinologist, you must complete an approved 3-year residency in pediatrics and an approved 3-year fellowship. Special alternative training pathways are available for those with a pre-existing PhD degree (5 years total including pediatrics residency and pediatric endocrine fellowship) or for combined board certification in pediatric and adult endocrinology (4 years of fellowship). For more information, click here.
Where do I found out about available programs?
Information about the various programs is available through ERAS Fellowships FREIDA and ACGME.
Most Pediatric Endocrinology fellowship training programs participate in ERAS for the application process and the Pediatric Subspecialities Match through the NRMP. Fellowship applications through ERAS begin in early July, with interviews commencing shortly thereafter. For match statistics, click here.
Why should I choose to become a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
The field of pediatric endocrinology allows its practitioners to develop close relationships with children and families. Our patients have mostly treatable disorders and hormone replacement/stimulation or suppression is the therapeutic paradigm for children who require treatment. Understanding endocrine disorders of childhood and their treatment is predicated on logical physiology leading to challenging thinking and rewarding outcomes. Pediatric endocrinologists collaborate with colleagues across the hospital to care for children with pediatric endocrine disorders in the inpatient and outpatient settings.
For more information about Pediatric Endocrinology, visit these websites:
ACGME
ERAS Fellowships
Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES: formerly known as The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society or LWPES)
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Endocrinology
List of relevant subspecialty journals:
Diabetes
Diabetes Care
Hormone Research in Pediatrics
International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Pediatric Diabetes
Pediatric Endocrine Reviews
Proposed Electives for a Resident Entering Endocrinology
Below is a list of suggested (not mandatory) rotations that a resident could consider if they are planning to apply in pediatric endocrinology. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive curriculum, but rather a list to create a program that fits a resident’s individual needs.
- Endocrinology elective (inpatient and outpatient)
- Research month/elective
- Diabetes camp
- Rotations with diabetes experience (PICU, inpatient diabetes)
- Endocrinology subspecialty clinic (longitudinal clinic if available)
- Genetics
- Gender Clinic
- Adolescent Medicine
Additional opportunities to explore the field of pediatric endocrinology
- Student Endocrinology Exposure Development (SEED) program: interactive session series which aims to enhance clinical learning for medical students and increase their exposure to pediatric endocrinology
- PedsENDO Discovery Program: supports attendance of 10 medical students and first year residents at the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) Annual Meeting each year with special programming for attendees (PES)
Pediatric Subspecialties: the need is huge, the careers are stimulating, and the rewards are amazing.
To access a recording of the 1 hour CoPS Pediatric Subspecialties Webinar Series on 9/20/21 featuring a panel discussion about careers as Pediatric Physician Scientists and then in Pediatric Endocrinology, please use this link.
Faculty Contacts
Reema Habiby, MD: rhabiby@luriechildrens.org
Tandy Aye, MD: taye@stanford.edu
Jennifer Barker, MD: Jennifer.Barker@childrenscolorado.org
Dianne Stafford, MD: dejs@stanford.edu
Additional faculty mentors and information can be found at the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES)