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Advancing Pediatric Thyroid Care : The Child and Adolescent Thyroid Consortium (CATC)

Dr. Pesce

Thyroid disorders can affect individuals of any age, including teenagers, children, and infants. Pediatric thyroid disorders can include hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels), hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone levels), thyroid nodules (growths on the thyroid), and even thyroid cancer. Dr. Liuska Pesce, a pediatric endocrinologist and faculty member of our division, is a thyroid expert focused on providing the best treatments for these conditions in young patients. She is a member of the Child and Adolescent Thyroid Consortium (CATC – click for website). This consortium is a collaboration of leading pediatric thyroid specialists across the country who have the goal of “improving outcomes for children and adolescents with thyroid disease” especially through synergistic research across institutions. Of the 20 member CATC hospitals in the USA, only three are not located in states on the east or west coast. We are fortunate at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to have a specialist like Dr. Pesce who has devoted her career to compassionate and expert medical care of pediatric thyroid disorders.

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Our Program Ranked Among the Best Children’s Diabetes & Endocrinology Programs Nationally

We are excited to share that our Division has been rated among the Best Children’s Hospitals for Diabetes & Endocrinology Care by the US News & World Report 2024-2025 annual national report, where we were ranked #25 nationwide. Other top ranked specialties at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital included neonatology (#21), nephrology, urology, neurology & neurosurgery, pediatric cancer, cardiology, orthopedics, and behavioral health.

“Our ongoing strong national ranking is a testament to the steadfast dedication and expertise of our pediatric endocrine physicians, nurse practitioners, specialty nurses, diabetes educators, psychologists, researchers, medical assistants, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, and all teams members. We remain devoted to provide the best endocrine and diabetes care for the children and adolescents in the region and beyond.”

Andrew Norris, M.D. Ph.D.
Director, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes
UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital

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When Does Pancreatitis Lead to Diabetes?

Dr. Parra Villasmil

Persons who have experienced pancreatitis sometimes will develop diabetes. Diabetes that occurs as a result of pancreatitis is not the same as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and sometimes it is called “type 3c diabetes”. While a fellow in our program, Dr. Parra Villasmil set out to compile knowledge on this subject, especially as relates to pediatric aged patients. Her review on this subject has now been published in the journal Gastroenterology Clinics of North America (permanent link to the article). In the review, Dr. Parra Villasmil summarizes data that 6-8% of children who experience pancreatitis will develop diabetes. The risk can occur after even one episode of pancreatitis but increases after multiple bouts of pancreatitis. The risk of developing diabetes is even higher for persons that have inherited forms of pancreatitis. Dr. Parra Villasmil stress the importance of continued screening for diabetes in persons who have experienced diabetes. The possible pathophysiology of pancreatitis-induced diabetes and treatment options are also discussed. This is an important review, in part because strategies to prevent diabetes in persons who have experienced pancreatitis do not yet exist. The article was written with Dr. Meleba Bellin, a Pediatric Endocrinologist at the University of Minnesota. We thank these authors for their contributions to knowledge dissemination.

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More Accurate Conversion of Average Blood Glucose to Hemoglobin A1c

Dr. Norris

What is Hemoglobin A1c? Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures the amount of glucose that is attached to a persons hemoglobin — the oxygen carrying protein found in red blood cells. The higher a person’s blood sugar, the more glucose that becomes attached. Because red blood cells last about 90 days, the HbA1c value reflects a person’s average blood glucose over the past 3 months. A HbA1c value over 6.4% indicates that a person has diabetes. For persons with diabetes, higher blood glucoses increase the risk of long term complications. Higher HbA1c levels are associated with increased rates of complications including diabetic eye disease, kidney disease, and neuropathy. For this reason, the American Diabetes Association recommends that most persons with diabetes have a goal of maintaining their HbA1c at less than 7%.

What is average blood glucose? In the past, HbA1c was the only widely available method to assess a person’s recent average blood glucose levels. Fortunately, technological advances over the past decades have enabled frequent testing of blood glucose using portable meters and even more powerfully using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). CGMs are wearable devices that measure a persons approximate blood glucose every few minutes. Modern glucose meters and CGMs can report a user’s recent average blood glucoses.

Converting between average blood glucose and HbA1c A common question asked by persons with diabetes is what HbA1c is predicted by their recent average blood glucose. There are multiple online conversion calculators that address this question, allowing the user to enter an average glucose for which a predicted HbA1c is returned. However, two scientists at the University of Iowa recently identified and reported a small mathematical error in the equations commonly used by online calculators to predict HbA1c from recent average blood glucose. As a result, the erroneous online calculators do not provide optimal predictions. The two scientists were Dr. Joseph Lang from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science and Dr. Andrew Norris from our Division. The two then derived new equations that correct the error. Their findings and new equations have been peer reviewed and now are published as a letter in the prominent journal Diabetes Care (link to article).  Dr Norris would like to thank Dr Lang for uncovering the error and devising the approach for its correction. The hope is that the improved equations will be adopted by online calculators. In the meantime, on a positive note, many continuous glucose monitors report an estimated HbA1c that is termed “GMI” (“glucose management indicator”) and the equations used for GMI are typically correct. Drs. Norris and Lang’s letter also comments on a recently published perspective that highlights ongoing issues in the interconversion of recent average blood glucose to HbA1c. It is important to understand that neither HbA1c nor meter/monitor derived average blood glucose are perfectly accurate. Unsurprisingly, interconversions between these two measurements often do not agree. The revised equations of Dr Lang and Dr Norris will help the situation to some degree but perfect agreement is not possible in real life. Additional data and understanding of the variances that impact the relationship between these two measurements are needed.

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Announcing New Faculty: Gabriel Castano, MD

Dr. Castano

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Gabriel Castano is starting as a new pediatric endocrinologist in our division. He received his Medical Doctorate from the Santos School of Medicine in Monterrey, completed pediatric residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, and just completed the highly regarded fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Texas Children’s Hospital / Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He has published expertise in several areas of pediatric endocrinology, including diabetes. His ongoing clinical interests include diabetes, type 2 diabetes prevention, and bone health. In clinic, his initial practice will include general pediatric endocrinology and diabetes, as well as outreach services in Bettendorf. Welcome Dr. Castano!

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Better Understanding of an Uncommon Form of Turner Syndrome

Dr. Catherina Pinnaro

Turner syndrome is a genetic condition cause by complete or partial loss of an X chromosome in a person who otherwise would have an XX karyotype. There are multiple ways in which the X chromosome can be missing or partially lost. Sometimes, a person with Turner syndrome will have a mixture of cells in their body. An uncommon form of Turner syndrome occurs when some cells are have only one X chromosome (45,X karyotype) and other cells have three X chromosomes – termed 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism. The health implications of this form of Turner syndrome have not been well studied until now. A group of Turner syndrome experts across the United States, including our own Dr. Pinnaro, have cooperated to combine their experiences. Their findings are now published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics (PubMed link). They found that features of this form of Turner syndrome could be more subtle than more common forms. Because Turner syndrome can cause a wide variety of rare but serious health concerns, it is important for persons with Turner syndrome to receive medical care in a specialized clinic, such as the one staffed at our center by Dr. Pinnaro and Dr. Alexandrou.

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Announcing New Pediatric Endocrine Fellow: Dr. Power

Dr. Power

Today we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Gregory Power has joined our division as a new pediatric endocrine fellow. He will serve three years in this role, after which he will be a full-fledged, board-eligible pediatric endocrinologist. Dr. Power received his Medical Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa having completed undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. He just completed a three-year pediatric residency at the Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University. While a resident he demonstrated an outstanding aptitude for and interest in pediatric endocrinology. In 2021, he was selected to join the PedsENDO Discovery Program administered by the Pediatric Endocrine Society. He graduated medical on the Research Distinction Tract, studying lung disease in premature infants. A warm welcome to Dr. Power!!

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Dr. Curtis Promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Curtis

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Vanessa Curtis for her well earned promotion to full professor!! In brief, Dr. Curtis has been promoted in recognition of her clinical mastery and leadership, her teaching leadership, her skills in clinical communication, and her nationally recognized scholarship in several aspects of pediatric endocrinology. She joined the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2011, having just completed a pediatric endocrine fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. Since that time, she has become a nationally recognized clinical expert as regards the endocrinology of young athletes. Additionally, she built the leading state/regional clinic for obese youth. We are especially thankful for her leadership as the Director of our Division’s pediatric endocrinology fellowship program, ushering it into its most successful era. To boot, she is an outstanding physician and superb teacher. Earlier this year she was tapped to become the Director of the Child and Community Health Division, highlighting her leadership skills. Once again, congratulations Dr. Curtis!

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Dr. Parra Villasmil Completes Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship

Dr. Parra Villasmil

We are extremely proud of Dr. Graciela Parra Villasmil. For the past 3 years, Dr. Parra Villasmil has been a pediatric endocrinology fellow in our program. Today she finishes this training and will officially become a “board eligible” pediatric endocrinologist. During these past three years, Dr. Parra Villasmil has been an exemplary fellow, delivering excellent clinical care and demonstrating exceptional clinical leadership. Her contributions include being an enthusiastic volunteer at Diabetes Camp Hertko Hollow. While a fellow, she has been a very energetic scholar, publishing several times, including a case report regarding the co-occurrence of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state and diabetic ketoacidosis. She presented a roundtable lecture at the 2023 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology meeting and a poster at the 2023 Pediatric Endocrine Society meeting. She has been named a 2023-2025 Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research (CAPER) scholar, and received an annual top research project award from CAPER. Several other of her awards received as a fellow have been previously mentioned in this blog. Dr. Parra Villasmil will be taking a position at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, joining their Pediatric Endocrine team. Her enthusiasm, patient care skills, and positive energy will be missed by our division. Congratulations Dr. Parra Villasmil!

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Dr. Pinnaro Recognized for her Outstanding Teaching

Dr. Catherina Pinnaro

On May 31st, Dr. Pinnaro received the Excellence in Clinical Coaching award from the Graduate Medical Education office. This award is given to faculty who are distinguished as outstanding clinical teachers of resident and fellow physicians. Comments written about Dr. Pinnaro’s teaching include a reflection of her approach to hospital rounds where she is renowned for “probing each learner with thought-provoking questions to assess their understanding, empowering the learners to take ownership of the patients, and dropping clinical pearls about even the mundane patient.” Congratulations Dr. Pinnaro, and thank you for your outstanding clinical teaching efforts.