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Division of Pediatric Endocrinology

Saint Louis University School of Medicine's Division of Pediatric Endocrinology is dedicated to improving the health of children with complex endocrine system disorders through clinical care, teaching and research.

Specialized Care for Pediatric Endocrine Conditions

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for infants, children and adolescents. Operating out of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, the division team offers a range of services, including: 

  • Inpatient and outpatient diabetes education
  • Specialized endocrine function testing
  • Newborn screenings
  • Transitioning adolescents with diabetes to adult care
  • Multidisciplinary support for patients’ nutritional and mental health needs
  • Multidisciplinary clinics, including:
    • Lipid Disorders Clinic
    • Turner Syndrome Clinic
    • Prader-Willi Syndrome Clinic 

The division also provides cross-department training for undergraduate and graduate medical students, including departmental conferences and lectures, electives, outpatient clinic supervision, and assistance with the Department of Internal Medicine’s endocrinology fellowship training.  

Meet the Faculty

Pediatric Endocrinology Research

The division is known for its research in pediatric diabetes — especially its ongoing role in the multi-center, federally-funded TODAY study that focuses on type 2 diabetes in adolescents. 

Researchers also conduct clinical trials and studies related to Prader-Willi syndrome, a disorder that affects children's metabolism, body and behavior. 

Grants
  • National Institutes of Health (NIDDK)
  • SE Tollefsen, PI, Saint Louis University site
  • RFA-DK-14-502 - Limited Competition: Continuation of Treatment Options for type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) Study
  • Novo Nordisk
    MK Siska, PI, NN2211-3659 - Efficacy and Safety of Liraglutide in Combination with Metformin versus Metformin Monotherapy on Glycemic Control in Children and Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes (ELLIPSE)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIDDK)
    SE Tollefsen, PI, Saint Louis University site
  • Treatment Options for type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY)
    TODAY, TODAY ARRA, T2P1, T2P2
Publications
  • Kapadia CR, Nebesio TD, Myers SE, Willi S, Miller BS, Allen DB, Jacobson-Dickman E. Endocrine effects of inhaled corticosteroids in children. JAMA Pediatrics 2015; 170(2):163-170.
  • McCandles SE, Yanovski JA, Miller J, Fu C, Bird LM, Salehi P, Chan CL, Stafford D, Abuzzahab MJ, Viskochill D, Barlow SE, Anglo M, Myers SE, Whitman BY, Styne D, Roof E, Dykens EM, Scheimann AO, Malloy J, Zhuang D, Taylor K, Hughes T, Kim DD, Butler MG. Effects fo MetAP2 inhibition on hyperphagia and body weight in Prader-Willi syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Obes Metab 2017;1-11
  • Finkle A, Zavertnik S, Myers S, Cormier D, Heithaus JL, Augustyn M. Growing up fast: managing Autism Spectrum Disorder and precocious puberty. Challenging Case August 2020. J Dev Behav Pediatr. Publish Ahead of Print, September 22, 2020.

Citations

  • Levers-Landis CE, Walders-Abramson N, Amodei N, Drews KL, Kaplan J, Levitt Katz LE, Lavietes S, Saletsky R, Seidman D, Yasuda P for the TODAY Study Group. Longitudinal correlates of health risk behaviors in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Pediatrics 2015; 166(5):1258-1264.
  • Larkin ME, Walders-Abramson N, Hirst K, Keady J, Ievers-Landis CE, Venditti EM, Yasuda PM. Effects of comorbid conditions on health related quality of life in youth with type 2 diabetes: the TODAY clinical trial. Diabetes Management 2015; 5(6):431-439.
  • Zeitler P, Hirst K, Copeland KC, El ghormli L, Katz LL, Levitsky LL, Linder B, McGuigan P, White NH, Wilfley D for the TODAY Study Group. HbA1c after a short period of monotherapy with metformin identifies durable glycemic control among adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2015; 38:2285-2292.
  • Tryggestad JB, Willi SM. Complications and comorbidities of T2DM in adolescents: findings from the TODAY clinical trial. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications 2015; 29(2):307-312.
  • Walders-Abramson N, Anderson B, Larkin ME, Chang N, Venditti E, Bzdick S, Tryggestad JB, Tan K, Geffner ME, Hirst K. Benefits and barriers to participating in longitudinal research of youth-onset type 2 diabetes: results from the TODAY retention survey. Clinical Trials 2016; 13(2):240-243.
  • Chernausek SD, Arslanian S, Caprio S, Copeland KC, El ghormli L, Kelsey MM, Koontz MB, Orsi CM, Wilfley D. Relationship between parental diabetes and presentation of metabolic and glycemic function in youth with type 2 diabetes: baseline findings from the TODAY trial. Diabetes Care 2016; 39(1):110-117.
  • Klingensmith GJ, Pyle L, Nadeau KJ, Barbour LA, Goland RS, Willi SM, Linder B, White NH for the TODAY Study Group. Pregnancy outcomes in youth with type 2 diabetes: the TODAY study experience. Diabetes Care 2016; 39:122-129.
  • Kelsey MM, Geffner ME, Guandalini C, Pyle L, Tamborlane WV, Zeitler PS, White NH for the TODAY Study Group. Presentation and effectiveness of early treatment of type 2 diabetes in youth: lessons from the TODAY study. Pediatric Diabetes 2016; 17(3):212-221.
Presentations
  • Dempsher, DP: "Hyperinsulinism" Division of Neonatology noon conference, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. St. Louis, MO, 8/3/15.
  • Dempsher, DP: "Diabetic Ketoacidosis" PL1 Introductory Lectures, Department of Pediatrics, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. St. Louis, MO, 8/12/15.
  • Eddy, MC: "A Curious Case of a Newborn Metabolic Screen" Pediatric Science Days, Department of Pediatrics, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. St. Louis, MO, 4/21/16.
  • Myers, SE: "Perioperative Management of Children with Endocrine Disorders" Pediatric Surgery Grand Rounds, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. St. Louis, MO, 3/16/16.
  • Yanovski JA, Myers S, et al.: "Improvement in Hyperphagia and Weight Loss in Adolescent Patients: Results from bestPWS, a Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of Beloranib in Prader-Willi Syndrome" 2016 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting. Baltimore, MD, 5/1/16.
  • Butler MG, Myers S, et al.: "Weight Loss and Improvement in Body Composition: Results from bestPWS, a Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of Beloranib in Prader-Willi Syndrome" 2016 Endocrine Society meeting. Boston, MA, 4/3/16.

Combined Presentations: Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine

  • Dempsher, DP
    Disorders of Puberty (7/25/17)
  • Myers, SE
    Growth Disorders (8/29/17)
  • Dempsher, DP
    A Case of Congenital Hypothyroidism from Iodine Deficiency (9/26/17)
  • Siska, MK
    Premature Ovarian Failure in a 15yr old girl 10/31/17
  • Eddy, MC 12yr old boy with hypocalcemia 11/28/17
  • Jackson, KE 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency CAH 1/30/18
  • Myers, SE
    Hypothalamic Obesity 2/27/18
  • Dempsher, DP
    15 year old w/acute testicular swelling 3/27/18
  • Siska, MK
    A Case of 46,XY DSD 4/24/18
  • Eddy, MC
    Empty Sella Wyndrome