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A Legacy of Care and Commitment

This post serves to celebrate two extraordinary members of our clinical team — Julie Osterhaus ARNP and Amy Sheehan RN — and to thank them for their decades of dedicated service to our division. Over the years, each has exemplified excellence in practice, pairing deep clinical knowledge with genuine compassion and unwavering professionalism. Their care has made a lasting difference for patients and families, and their steady presence has strengthened our team in countless ways. With sincere gratitude, we thank you both for your remarkable service, your compassion, and the standards of excellence you continue to set. We wish you both the best in your next endeavors!

Julie (center) and Amy (3rd from right) at an April 2026 Division celebration of Julie’s retirement, along with the entire pediatric diabetes nursing team.
Julie on her last day at outreach clinic.
Diabetes nursing team from a few years ago. Amy is on the far right.
Faculty, fellows, and diabetes nurses from last year. Amy is furthest back.
Picture from 1990s, nurses for the pediatric oncology floor. Amy is second from right front row. Amy is not the only nurse who subsequently joined the Endocrine Division. Nurse Julie (2nd row, far left), Nurse Sue (next to Julie), and Nurse Rose (back row, second from left).
The pediatric endocrine division in 2013. Amy is second from left, back row; Julie is second from right, back row.

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Need for Thyroid Monitoring and Further Research After Iodinated Contrast Use in Young

Dr. Pesce

A newly peer-reviewed manuscript addresses thyroid monitoring following intravascular iodinated contrast media exposure in infants and young children. This consensus-based publication was developed in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2022 Drug Safety Communication recommending thyroid function monitoring in children up to 3 years of age after iodinated contrast–enhanced imaging. The manuscript resulted from discussions among a multidisciplinary collection of pediatric endocrinology and imaging experts. The manuscript critically reviews the existing evidence on iodine-associated thyroid dysfunction in early childhood and offers practical guidance on post-exposure thyroid testing and management. Importantly, the authors identify substantial gaps in current knowledge and strongly advocate for well-designed prospective studies to better define the incidence, risk factors, natural history, and outcomes of thyroid dysfunction in this vulnerable population. Dr. Pesce from our division was one of the participating experts and authors of the manuscript. This reflects her commitment to advancing evidence-based guidance at the intersection of pediatric thyroid management and clinical policy, and we congratulate her and the full author team on this impactful contribution to pediatric care. The abstract is indexed on PubMed and can be found here.

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Concordance of HbA1c and CGM in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis–Related Diabetes

Dr. Larson Ode

A newly published manuscript examines the relationship between HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)–derived metrics in adults with cystic fibrosis–related diabetes (CFRD). This work addresses an ongoing clinical question in CFRD care, particularly in the era of widespread CGM use and modern CFTR modulator therapy. Drawing on real-world data from adults with established CFRD, the study demonstrates agreement between HbA1c and CGM-derived measures of mean glycemia, reinforcing clinical relevance of HbA1c while underscoring the added value of CGM metrics. Dr. Larson Ode from our division contributed to the manuscript, highlighting her ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based care for people with cystic fibrosis and diabetes, and we congratulate her and the full author team on this meaningful contribution to the field.

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Great Podcast Episode to Enhance Medical Knowledge About Pediatric Diabetes and Obesity

Dr. Castaño

Two of our division members were interviewed as part of a podcast to disseminate knowledge about diabetes and obesity in youth. Dr. Gabo Castano and Dr. Lisa Ejsmont (an outstanding PharmD who assists our division) were interviewed by Rounding@IOWA, which is a podcast intended to provide ongoing education to healthcare teams. They were joined by Dr. Uzma Rani, adolescent medicine pediatrician and pediatric obesity healthcare leader. These three doctors were interviewed for nearly an hour and covered a wide range of topics related to pediatric diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, and childhood obesity. The podcast is highly informative for healthcare providers and highly recommended. It can be found at https://uiowace.libsyn.com/90-childhood-diabetes. A special thank you to Drs. Castano, Ejsmont, and Rani for sharing their expertise in this important area!!!

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Best Senior Fellow Abstracts!

Dr. Baum and Dr. Power both submitted abstracts of their research to the Pediatric Research Day 2026 event. Both had their work chosen as “Best Senior Fellow Abstracts” and were invited to give research talks at the event, held on April 10. Congrats to both!

Dr. Baum at the podium!
Dr. Power at the podium!
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Assessing the Advances in Endocrine Care for People With Cystic Fibrosis

Dr. Larson Ode

Dr. Larson Ode from our division has co-authored two newly-published, peer‑reviewed articles in the journal titled Endocrine Practice.

Th first article examines the real-world practice of endocrinologists to manage dysglycemia in people with cystic fibrosis who do not meet criteria for cystic fibrosis–related diabetes (CFRD). The study, titled “Between the Guidelines: Variability in Management of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis & Dysglycemia,” reports findings from a national survey of U.S. endocrinologists with CF expertise. The challenge in management is that current guidelines do not address how to manage people with cystic fibrosis who have elevated blood sugar levels that are not high enough to meet criteria to be diagnosed as diabetes. The survey found substantial variation in clinical practice. One frequent approach was use of continuous glucose monitors, though access barriers and disagreement over which metrics are most meaningful highlight uncertainties. Use of lifestyle interventions and medications—including insulin and selected non‑insulin therapies—also varied widely. The results underscore the need for more standardized approaches to support future research and guide evidence‑based care. You can find the PubMed link to the full article here.

A second article reviews endocrine care for people with cystic fibrosis. The publication reviews the evolving endocrine and metabolic considerations in cystic fibrosis in the era of CFTR modulator therapies, with attention to diabetes, bone health, growth, and emerging metabolic risks. The article, “The Changing Landscape of Pediatric Endocrinology in Cystic Fibrosis: Insights from the Post‑CFTR Modulator Era,” emphasizes how advances in targeted CF therapies are reshaping long‑term endocrine management and highlights areas where ongoing research will be essential to guide best practices. You can find the PubMed link to the full article here.

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Clinical Trial Shows Efficacy of a Once‑Weekly Growth Hormone Analog in Children With Noonan Syndrome

Dr. Tansey

A new multinational, phase 3 clinical trial published online ahead of print in the European Journal of Endocrinology studied the growth promoting effects of once‑weekly growth hormone analog versus standard daily growth hormone (GH) therapy for children living with Noonan syndrome. The results show that the weekly analog approach is superior to the daily approach in terms of enhancing growth rate. The study, titled “Once‑weekly Somapacitan in Children with Noonan Syndrome: Randomised Controlled Phase 3 Trial”. The trial authors included contributions from Dr. Tansey from our Division. A total of 77 children with Noonan syndrome were enrolled in the trial and randomized 2:1 to the once‑weekly standard or daily GH preparations over a one-year period. The children receiving the weekly analog grew a little faster (13% on average, statistically significant) compared with the daily GH group. Importantly, the weekly analog was well tolerated, showing a safety profile comparable to daily GH. It will be important to ascertain the long term impact of the weekly analog on final adult height in this population. These findings highlight a promising, less burdensome therapeutic option for families. We thank Dr. Tansey for his role in advancing this impactful work. The abstract of the work can be found at this pubmed link.

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Dr. Pesce Honored Among 2026 Exceptional Women in Medicine

Dr. Pesce

We could not agree more! Dr. Pesce from our division has been named by Castle Connolly to the list of “Exceptional Women in Medicine 2026”. The list is developed to identify the top 2% of female physicians across the United States. Criteria for the award include demonstration of outstanding leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication in a field of medicine. Dr. Pesce completed her residency at University of Illinois, and her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Lurie Children’s Hospital associated with Northwestern University in Chicago where she researched thyroid biology. Her clinical expertise regards thyroid nodules and treatment of pediatric thyroid cancer. She also practices general pediatric endocrinology. We have been so fortunate that she joined the University of Stead Family Iowa Children’s Hospital in 2008. Congratulations Dr. Pesce on this well deserved and hard earned honor! For now (spring 2026) her Castle Connolly award page can be found here at this link.

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Division Faculty Featured in EatingWell

Dr. Curtis

We are proud to share that Dr. Curtis, a member of our division’s faculty, was recently interviewed for an online feature published by EatingWell. The article, “What Happens to Your Blood Sugar When You Walk Every Day,” highlights the health impact of daily physical activity and draws on Dr. Curtis’s expert insight into blood sugar regulation and metabolic health. Dr. Curtis noted the many benefits of walking, including lower blood sugar, improved insulin sensitivity, and lower stress hormones. We are glad that Dr. Curtis contributed her expertise to this nationally visible article, which highlights her leadership in this important area of health and wellness. This feature not only reflects Dr. Curtis’s individual accomplishments, but also showcases the strength of scholarship and clinical knowledge within our division. You can view the article at this link.

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Great Nurses in Iowa – 2026

We are delighted to share that Amy Sheehan, BSN, RN, CDCES, has been honored as one of Iowa’s 100 Great Nurses. Our division is extraordinarily fortunate to have Amy leading our diabetes educator nursing team.

Amy brings leadership with heart—pairing deep clinical expertise with unwavering compassion for children living with diabetes. She is a steadfast advocate for patients and families, consistently going above and beyond to ensure they feel supported, informed, and empowered.

Her leadership is grounded in service, integrity, and genuine care. Amy guides our wonderful team of dedicated nurses through the complex and vital work of pediatric diabetes education, fostering an environment where excellence and empathy thrive.

Please join us in celebrating Amy for this well‑deserved recognition. Her impact on our patients, families, and team is immeasurable.

The list of 100 nurses can be found here: https://greatiowanurses.org/2026-great-iowa-nurses/ .