Mastrandrea Elected to the American Pediatric Society

Mastrandrea is one of 92 new APS members announced Nov. 11. They will be formally recognized at the APS Howland Gala, held during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting in Boston in April.

Founded in 1888, the APS is North America’s first academic pediatric organization. According to the APS, members are recognized child health leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to strengthen academic pediatrics by expanding the workforce, nurturing leaders and developing innovative approaches to address child and adolescent health challenges.

“The American Pediatric Society is one of the premier honorary academic pediatric organizations in the United States,” says Benny L. Joyner, MD, A. Conger Goodyear Professor and Chair of pediatrics at the Jacobs School, pediatrician-in-chief at Oishei Children’s Hospital, and president and CEO of UBMD Pediatrics. 

“I am excited to congratulate Dr. Mastrandrea for her acceptance into this organization. Induction into this organization is an acknowledgement of Dr. Mastrandrea’s contribution not only to UB but also nationally and internationally in the sub-specialty of pediatric endocrinology,” he says. “While those of us that work with Dr. Mastrandrea recognize her excellence in academic medicine, this well-deserved honor is an external validation of her notable contributions to the field.”

A prolific researcher in pediatric endocrinology for more than two decades who has consistently published in high-impact journals, Mastrandrea has contributed to some of the most impactful discoveries in the field. Her work has resulted in improving treatments and outcomes for patients with obesity, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, late endocrine effects of childhood cancer and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A focus of Mastrandrea’s work is on obesity management in pediatric patients, including both behavioral and pharmaceutical strategies to improve success with weight control. She has led research showing that many of the weight loss drugs known as GLP-1 medications, which have been used in adults for years, are also safe and effective to use in children and adolescents with obesity. In 2023 she was a co-author on a major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that a weekly injection of the drug semaglutide plus lifestyle intervention resulted in a mean percent reduction body mass index of 16.1% in teens, with about 40% of patients attaining normal weight.

This research, along with other findings from studies Mastrandrea has been involved in that evaluate these medications in younger children as well, has greatly expanded the treatment options for children and adolescents with obesity when lifestyle interventions alone are insufficient.

Currently a site investigator for a study on GLP-1 medications in children aged 6-12 with obesity, she is also an investigator on studies designed to help patients maintain weight loss after bariatric surgery and how precision medicine can help determine the best candidates for bariatric surgery.

Her research on children with Type 1 diabetes spans a broad spectrum, from studying how existing drugs like metformin might help patients who are overweight, to studying how novel therapies might protect insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells from auto-immune destruction in adults and children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Throughout her career, Mastrandrea has received major and consistent funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, pharmaceutical companies and organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association.

Currently division chief of pediatric endocrinology and associate program director of the MD/PhD program in the Jacobs School, she is also the medical director of the Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes at UBMD Pediatrics and medical director of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at Oishei Children’s Hospital. Mastrandrea has participated in leadership programs with the Pediatric Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, with a focus on women in leadership positions in medicine.

Since 2007, Mastrandrea has been faculty adviser for D-Link, a diabetes support group founded and run by the Jacobs School that provides peer interaction and a proactive approach to managing the disease for Western New York youths ages 12 to 18. Medical students involved with the group learn valuable lessons about the disease from the patient’s perspective.

A Jacobs School alumna, Mastrandrea earned her MD/PhD from UB and did her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at UB. She lives in East Amherst, New York.

Throughout her career, Mastrandrea has received major and consistent funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, pharmaceutical companies and organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association.

Currently division chief of pediatric endocrinology and associate program director of the MD-PhD Program in the Jacobs School, she is also the medical director of the Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes at UBMD Pediatrics and medical director of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at Oishei Children’s Hospital. Mastrandrea has participated in leadership programs with the Pediatric Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, with a focus on women in leadership positions in medicine.

Since 2007, Mastrandrea has been faculty adviser for D-Link, a diabetes support group founded and run by the Jacobs School that provides peer interaction and a proactive approach to managing the disease for Western New York youths ages 12 to 18. Medical students involved with the group learn valuable lessons about the disease from the patient’s perspective.

A Jacobs School alumna, Mastrandrea earned her medical and doctoral degrees from UB and did her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at UB. She lives in East Amherst, New York.