Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-Institute Training

Clinical and research time distribution can be highly individualized based on each fellow’s interests. We accommodate requests on adjusting clinical and research time exposure based on each fellow’s career plans, as long as they comply with American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements.

The following provides an example of time distribution in various rotations during the 3-year fellowship (see next section for rotation description):

First Year

During the first year, fellows are mostly developing their clinical skills through exposure to a wide variety of pediatric endocrine conditions. Fellows rotate at the NIH Clinical Center (4 months), CNH (4 months), and WRNMMC (2 months). Trainees also serve as the consult fellow at the NIH for 1 month. During these rotations fellows work both outpatient clinics and on the inpatient service.

The NIH Clinical Center rotation provides unparalleled exposure to rare endocrine conditions (pituitary tumors, pheochromocytoma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, lipodystrophy, McCune-Albright syndrome, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1, monogenic obesity, hypophosphatemia, hypoparathyroidism, and many others), while the CNH and WRNMMC rotations provide exposure to common and rare endocrine conditions in various clinical settings (outpatient clinic, PICU, NICU).

Fellows also have the option to do 1 month of research rotation as an elective during the first year or spend 1 month on clinical rotation at other neighboring institutions (such as Georgetown University or Johns Hopkins Hospital).

Second and Third Year

During second and third year, fellows spend 10 weeks/year on the NIH pediatric endocrinology/pediatric blood glucose management consult service. They are also on call for CNH for 3 weeks during the second and 2 weeks during the third year. Towards the end of the third year, the fellow may supervise a junior fellow during an additional week (“Pre-Attending.”)

The NIH consult service provides a unique opportunity to get exposed to various endocrine pathologies associated with rare syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN), endocrine manifestations in cancer survivors, APECED, and endocrine pathologies in yet undescribed genetic conditions.

Specialty Clinics

Fellows are encouraged to attend the specialty endocrine clinics that are offered at NIH or CNH (many of which are run jointly by NIH and CNH faculty). They can choose to spend one continuity clinic session per month at a specialty clinic, if that falls under their interests, or spend additional clinical time on specialty clinics if their schedule allows.

Available Specialty Clinics:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• PROUD (Positive Reevaluation of Urogenital Differences), for children with Variations in Sex Characteristics (VSC)
• Bone Health Clinic
• Thyroid Nodule Clinic
• Turner Syndrome Clinic
• Gender Clinic
• Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD) Clinic

Call Schedule

There is no in-house overnight call. During the first year, pediatric endocrine fellows are on call from home approximately 1 week every 3 to 5 weeks depending on the rotation, supported by one of the endocrine attendings. During the second and third years, fellows take call from home when they participate in the NIH pediatric endocrine consult service (10 weeks/year) and CNH inpatient service (2-3 weeks/year).

Although fellows are given the opportunity to care for young adult patients with interesting endocrine conditions during the NIH ward rotation, there is no call coverage of adult patients.

The Pediatric Endocrinology Inter-Institute Training Program provides exceptional research opportunities in clinical, basic, and translational research, led by world-wide known scientists who have participated in developing many of standard-of-care clinical practice guidelines.

Fellows are encouraged to choose a mentor by the end of first year and initiate a research project in the beginning of the second year. All faculty support a research-protected environment for our fellows, and a supervising committee provides regular feedback.

Fellows can learn how to develop a research protocol, conduct a study, evaluate the results, and create a presentation or a manuscript suitable for publication. Funding for 2 years of research is guaranteed to all fellows.

Didactic sessions are held weekly to prepare fellows for board certification and to discuss interesting and/or challenging clinical cases. Additionally, fellows participate in multidisciplinary rounds held with surgery, neurosurgery, and radiology to discuss interesting cases and coordinate care between departments.

NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP): Non-competitive loan repayment is available through the intramural NIH LRP. Eligible fellows may receive loan repayment of up to $50,000 per year.

Joint NIH-Duke Training Program in Clinical Research: Fellows are encouraged to apply to this program, which leads to a Master of Health Science (MHSc) degree. The program is supported by the NICHD Office of Education.

Numerous NIH training opportunities and resources are available and provided at no cost to all clinical fellows. These include credited courses on biostatistics, bioinformatics, laboratory methods etc.

Additionally, all fellows can participate in educational workshops provided by NICHD for manuscript writing, grant preparation/application, etc.

Jeffrey Baron, M.D.

Senior Investigator
Head, Section on Growth and Development
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Alison Boyce, M.D.

Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Metabolic Bone Disorders Unit
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Rebecca J. Brown, M.D., M.H.Sc

Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Section on Translational Diabetes and Metabolic Syndromes, Diabetes, Endocrinology & Obesity Branch
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Stephanie Chung, MBBS

Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Section on Pediatric Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Diabetes, Endocrinology & Obesity Branch
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Rachel Gafni, M.D.

Senior Research Physician
Skeletal Disorders and Mineral Homeostasis
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Interim Program Director, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Catherine M. Gordon, M.D., M.S.

Clinical Director
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Marissa Lightbourne, M.D., MPH

Assistant Research Physician
Section on Translational Diabetes and Metabolic Syndromes, Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Obesity Branch
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Deborah Merke, M.D., M.S.

Senior Investigator
Head, Section on Congenital Disorders
Chief, Pediatric Service
NIH Clinical Center (CC)

Samar Rahhal, M.D.

Assistant Research Physician
Section on Molecular Dysmorphology
Office of the Clinical Director 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Vivian Szymczuk, M.D.

Staff Clinician
Metabolic Bone Disorders Unit
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Christina Tatsi, M.D., MHSc, PhD

Assistant Clinical Investigator
Unit on Hypothalamic and Pituitary Disorders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Jack Yanovski, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Investigator
Head, Section on Growth and Obesity
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Sue-Ann Arboine MSN, RN, CDCES

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Blood Glucose Management Service
NIH Clinical Center (CC)

Shiela Brady, F.N.P, M.S.N.

Nurse Practitioner
Section on Growth and Obesity
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Elaine Cochran, CRNP, BC-ADM, CDCES

Nurse Practitioner, Senior Staff
Blood Glucose Management Service
Office of the Clinical Director
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Olivia de Jong, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Nurse Practitioner
Metabolic Bone Disorders Unit
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Janell Krack, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Blood Glucose Management Service
NIH Clinical Center (CC)

Lilian Mabundo, RN, MSN, CDCE

Research Nurse Specialist
Section on Pediatric Diabetes, Obesity, & Metabolism
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Blood Glucose Management Service
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Rita Meadows, PhD, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner
Skeletal Disorders and Mineral Homeostasis Section
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Harinder Raipuria, DNP, FNP-C

Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Endocrinology Consult Service 
Office of the Clinical Director
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Devora Stein, FNP-BC, M.S.N.

Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Endocrinology Consult Service 
Office of the Clinical Director
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Brittney Corbin

Program Coordinator
Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship Program
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Kassie Nantz

Management Analyst
Administrative Management Branch (AMB)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

View a map (PDF 2.6 MB) with information about our past fellows.

Apply to this program through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS): This program participates in the National Resident Matching program (NRMP). For those with international medical training, the ERAS application process begins with obtaining a residency token from ECFMG’s OASIS. Those with international residencies and/or J1 supported trainees may also consider reaching out via E-mail during the application cycle.