Elective

Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

Receive expert training in recognizing, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans for endocrinology disorders.

You will be trained in recognizing, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans for endocrinology disorders and you will work in both inpatient and outpatient settings, obtaining focused medical histories and conducting physical exams.

You will learn to interpret common endocrine lab tests, use fine needle thyroid aspiration appropriately, use a full range of imaging studies and recognize the rationale for therapy modalities such as diabetic diets, exercise programs, glucose monitoring and insulin delivery devices.

You will participate in daily walk rounds on endocrine patients and will be the first to see new endocrine consults, which you will then discuss with the fellow and/or endocrine attending. You will also have the opportunity to participate in both pediatric and reproductive endocrine clinics.

Educational Goals

You must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care including but limited to:

  • interpreting common endocrine lab tests including thyroid function testing, glycosolated Hgb and glucose tolerance testing
  • recalling all the indications, limitations, complications, contraindications and cytology of fine needle thyroid aspiration
  • use of radionuclide, ultrasound, radiologic and other imaging studies in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrinology, diabetes mellitus and metabolism (EDMM) disease
  • recognizing the rationale for diabetic diets, exercise programs, glucose monitoring devices, oral antidiabetic therapy, acute and chronic insulin administration including a basic understanding of insulin delivery devices

Procedures Learned and Conditions Seen

You are expected to acquire knowledge in EDMM disorders appropriate for an internist, focusing on:

  • basic science aspects of EDMM including endocrine physiology and pathophysiology in systemic disease, principles of hormone action, signal transduction pathways, biology of hormone receptors, biology of sexual development, reproductive endocrinology/sexual dysfunction as related to EDMM
  • thyroid disorders including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, goiter, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodular disease and thyroiditis
  • Type I and Type II DM: including patient monitoring and treatment objectives, acute and chronic complications of DM, gestational DM, education and psychosocial issues, general dietary principles and perioperative management of diabetic patients
  • calcium and skeletal muscle metabolism including hyperparathryoidism, hypercalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, metabolic bone disease and the evaluation and treatment of renal calculi
  • pituitary disorders including pituitary tumors, pituitary insufficiency, and the evaluation and management of excess or deficient hormonal production including central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
  • adrenal disorders including Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease and disorders of aldosterone production and pheochromocytoma
  • the diagnosis and management of endocrine emergencies including hyper- and hypocalcemia, thyroid storm, myxedema coma, adrenal insufficiency and pituitary apoplexy
  • the work-up and management of overweight and obesity. This includes medical evaluation, nutrition assessment, physical activity recommendations, and behavior modification recommendations
  • the diagnosis and management of lipoprotein disorders
  • understanding the role and importance of investigator-initiated research and clinical trials as an important component of diabetes, lipid, and obesity care

Didactic Conferences

Monthly Journal Club is held at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.

Endocrine Surgical Pathology Conference — A monthly combined conference with the head and neck surgeons and pathologists is held at 8 a.m. every fourth Tuesday of the month at Sisters Hospital, Conference Room 419.

Years Taken

  • PGY-2, PGY-3 or PGY-4 

Length of Rotation

4 weeks