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Dr. Curtis Provides Expertise to the Taylor Hooton Foundation

Dr. Curtis

Testosterone is a powerful hormone and has potential for abuse for a variety of reasons, including use for physical appearance and sports performance enhancement. The same is true for testosterone-like synthetic chemicals, termed anabolic steroids. The Taylor Hooton Foundation aims to educate the public about the dangers of these substances when used for physical appearance and sports performance enhancement. Testosterone and FDA approved anabolic steroids are important treatments for some medical conditions, when prescribed at proper dosages and carefully monitored. On July 28th, Dr. Curtis, who has expertise on these topics, spoke to the Taylor Hooton Foundation about the abuses of these compounds.

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Dr. Pesce Promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Pesce

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Liuska Pesce for her well earned promotion to full professor!! In brief, Dr. Pesce has been promoted in recognition of her being a master clinician, an award-winning teacher, a highly compassionate physician, and a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of thyroid disorders in children. She joined the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2008. As a trainee, she performed cutting-edge research leading to several publications in the area of molecular transport in thyroid cells. Although she could have joined the faculty on the tenure track, she instead felt that her calling was clinical care. Her clinical expertise and thoughtfulness is cherished by her peer faculty, who often seek out her clinical opinion. Her patients satisfaction ratings are superlative and among the very top tier at the entire institution. In this area of medicine, Dr. Pesce has gained national recognition and prominence. She, with other members of her pediatric thyroid clinic team, have published several peer reviewed research articles. She, with colleagues at other institutions, has published opinion pieces related to thyroid care, as well as related national teaching modules. She also has published numerous opinion pieces in Clinical Thyroidology for the Public. She has been invited to give lectures on pediatric thyroid disease at national conferences for the past several years. Also in recognition of her expertise, she has been named to the American Thyroid Association Patient Affairs & Education national Committee. Once again, congratulations Dr. Pesce!

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Announcing New Pediatric Endocrine Fellow: Dr. Parra Villasmil

Dr. Parra Villasmil

Today we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Graciela Parra Villasmil has joined our division as a new pediatric endocrine fellow. She will serve three years in this role, after which she will be a full fledged board eligible pediatric endocrinologist. Dr. Parra Villasmil received her Medical Degree from the Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela where she was an award winning student. She then completed a pediatric residency at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. While a resident she demonstrated an aptitude for and interest in pediatric endocrinology, and was highly involved in diabetes camp (see picture below) at Camp Herkto Hollow. She has assisted with pediatric endocrine clinical research both in Venezuela and while a pediatric resident at the University of Iowa, and has published her scholarship in the field of endocrinology (link 1 and link 2). Welcome Dr. Parra Villasmil!! We are also proud to announce that Dr. Sriya Subramani, who was a pediatric resident here, is also starting a Pediatric Fellowship, at University of Washington / Seattle Children’s Hospital. Congratulations Dr. Subramani!!

Diabetes Camp Hertko Hollow, some staff from teen week 2019. Division members include Diabetes Nurse Sue Huff on the far left, endocrine fellow Dr. Alex Tuttle on the far right, and new endocrine fellow Dr. Parra Villasmil second from far right. Dr. Sriya Subramani, front far right, also is a new endocrine fellow, at the University of Washington.
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Dr. Curtis Assumes Reins of Fellowship Program

Dr. Curtis

We are happy to announce that Dr. Vanessa Curtis has assumed leadership as Program Director of our Pediatric Endocrinology fellowship. Dr. Curtis received her MD from the University of Wisconsin, where she also completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology. Since coming to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital as pediatric endocrine faculty in 2011, she has become known for her expert clinical care and illuminating clinical teaching. She helped found the important University of Iowa Cardiometabolic Clinic, which serves to optimize health in youth with obesity-related medical complications. Her research has focused on pediatric growth and development. For the past several years Dr. Curtis has distinguished herself as an education leader while serving as the Associate Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship Program Director and as Assistant Clerkship Director of the Core Pediatric Clerkship for medical students. For these reasons, we are pleased to welcome her as fellowship Program Director. We would also like to thank outgoing Program Director Dr. Tansey for his service in this role since 2008. His involvement in the fellowship program will continue as Associate Director.

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Scientific Workshop on Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes

The National Institutes of Health and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation held a 3-day workshop devoted to cystic fibrosis related diabetes from June 23-25 (workshop link). The workshop was attended by interested physicians, scientists, and affected families and persons, and also was open to the public. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss the current state of knowledge about this form of diabetes, and to help inform future research directions. Dr. Larson Ode and Dr. Norris from our division both spoke on their areas of related expertise, with talks entitled “Glycemic Abnormalities in Young Children” and “Innervation of the CF Pancreas” respectively. The University of Iowa was also represented by two other speakers, gene therapy expert John Engelhardt PhD and pediatric gastroenterologist Aliye Uc MD. Drs. Engelhardt and Norris were also part of the workshop planning committee, along with other experts from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children’s Hospital.

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Exemplifying Cardiometabolic Health Maintenance.

Congratulations to Dr. Vanessa Curtis for recently winning her division in the Sylvan Island Stampede bike race. The race was held in April on an island on the Mississippi River near Moline Illinois. Despite working full time as a Pediatric Endocrinologist, Dr. Curtis is also a competitive cyclist. She is an example of cardiometabolic health maintenance to us all.

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

Our Division has been rated among the Best Children’s Hospitals for Diabetes & Endocrinology Care by the US News & World Report 15th annual national report, where we were ranked #41 nationwide. Other top ranked specialties at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital included neonatology, pediatric orthopedics, pediatric nephrology, and pediatric neurology and neurosurgery.

“Our national ranking is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our pediatric endocrine physicians, nurse practitioners, specialty nurses, diabetes educators, researchers, medical assistants, dieticians, pharmacists, and all teams members. We remain devoted to provide the best 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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Trainees Present their Pediatric Endocrine Research Projects.

On June 7th, the Department of Pediatrics held its Research Day. We are proud of the multiple training physicians who presented their research being conducted under the mentorship of Pediatric Endocrine faculty. Specific presenters and their endocrine mentors included:

  • Dr. Caitlin Lindaman, Pediatric Resident: “Contributing Factors to Follow-Up Rates at the University of Iowa Pedatric Cardio-Metabolic Clinic.” Mentored by Dr. Vanessa Curtis.
  • Dr. Graciela Parra Villasmil, Pediatric Resident: “Thyroid Eye Disease in Children and Adolescents with Graves Disease.” Mentored by Dr. Liuska Pesce.
  • Dr. Benjamin Palmer and Dr. Karissa Soltys, Pediatric Residents: “Caregiver-initiated retrospective glucose data review is associated with improved glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes.” Mentored by Dr. Catherina Pinnaro.
  • Dr. Sriya Subramani, Pediatric Resident: “A rare etiology of hypoglycemia in an adolescent male. Mentored by Drs. Catherina Pinnaro, Michael Tansey, and Andrew Norris.
  • Dr. Ada Reyes, Dental Fellow: “Childhood obesity and Metabolic Syndrome are associated with oral microbial dysbiosis.” Mentored by Drs. Vanessa Curtis and Lauren Kanner in collaboration with Dr. Ganesan of the College of Dentistry.
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Potential Exocrine-Endocrine Pancreas Crosstalk

Pancreatic islets are the cells that produce insulin and glucagon, and are otherwise known as the endocrine pancreas. The islets are surrounded by the exocrine pancreas. The exocrine pancreas is a gland that creates digestive juices for the intestine. It has long been postulated that the exocrine pancreas cells help support the function and existence of the islets. The corollary is that a diseased exocrine pancreas might have negative influence on islet function. This postulated biology may be at play in cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD), a unique form of diabetes that afflicts many persons who have cystic fibrosis. To test this possibility, researchers at the University of Iowa have studied exocrine pancreas cells grown in cell culture from ferrets with and without cystic fibrosis. The researchers found that the exocrine cells affected by cystic fibrosis secrete different proteins than the healthy cells. Furthermore, some of the differences are expected to impact islet function. The results were published in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. Dr. Norris from our division was one of the study authors, along with other scientists.

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Modeling Pancreatitis-induced Islet Dysfunction.

Pancreatitis often leads to hyperglycemia. However, there have been major limitations in understanding the involved pathophysiology. Several collaborators at the University of Iowa have now created a model to help understand the process. The research team found that cerulein injections led to pancretitis with elevated amylase and lipase. Acute accompanied the acute pancreatitis, with both impaired insulin levels and evidence of insulin resistance. Glucose tolerance normalized by 3 months. The research team included our Dr. Andrew Norris, but also pediatric gastroenterologist Aliye Uc and researchers and faculty from the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.