News & Events

Endocrinology Division Will Inspire Future Specialists With New Program

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

The University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry is launching a new initiative to inspire future endocrinologists by creating student interest groups, hosting faculty-led education sessions, and offering Excellence in Endocrinology awards. UR was selected as one of only 10 medical schools in the US by the Endocrine Society to host the new Medical School Engagement Program (MSEP). This initiative aims to address the declining number of medical graduates entering fellowships by showcasing the specialty’s exciting and impactful opportunities and offering superlative mentorship.

Leading the initiative are division chief Stephen Hammes, MD, PhD, and Adnin Zaman, MD, assistant professor of Medicine. The MSEP will offer financial support for these activities for two years. The program will sponsor the recipients of the Excellence in Endocrinology awards to attend ENDO, the annual conference, where they will participate in Endocrine Mentor Day to meet with society leaders.

Hammes emphasized the importance of mentorship in selecting a specialty. He shared that his own interest was sparked by the fellowship associate program director while he was a resident. “She got me interested and I never looked back once. We’re aiming to introduce this excitement even earlier in medical students.”

This effort is greatly needed because the number of endocrine fellowship positions has increased by 78 percent since 2010, while the number of applications dropped by 4 percent.

Zaman notes that medical school curriculum has condensed endocrinology education into just two or three weeks. That shift makes it difficult for students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the specialty.

Hammes added that medical students often experience their rotations in inpatient settings, which doesn’t reflect the typical outpatient practice, and limits their exposure to what being an endocrinologist truly is like.

Excited for the program to start, Zaman said “endocrinology is a fascinating field. The diseases we treat are chronic, so we get to maintain long-term relationships with our patients. There is no body system that isn’t affected by endocrinology, so we often collaborate with internists due to the broad reach of our specialty. Our goal with this program is to ignite this passion in the next generation.”

Endocrinology Takes Center Stage at Major Conference: Hammes Delivers Presidential Speech

Monday, June 17, 2024

The Department of Medicine had a stellar representation at this year’s Endocrine Society annual meeting, an international gathering that draws researchers from around the world. Attended by over 7,000 participants, the event showcases the exceptional work of our faculty, fellows, and residents through poster abstracts, moderated sessions, and chairing roles.

Notable highlights include:

• Benjamin Gigliotti, MD, led a debate on the main stage about the use of T3 in patients with hypothyroidism, which drew a large crowd. 
• Laura Calvi, MD, who currently serves as president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), led a joint symposium between the two societies.
• Ismat Shafiq, MBBS, was appointed to the board of the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology and Metabolism.

In addition to DOM faculty, several University of Rochester undergrads, graduate students, and medical students presented their work. Erin Gibbons, a graduate student in the Hammes Lab, earned the Presidential Poster Competition Award for tumor biology.

Stephen Hammes, MD, PhD, division chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, has spent the last year as president of the Endo Society. A major highlight of the conference was Hammes delivering the Presidential Address.

“I have been a member for 25 years,” Hammes said, “and have always considered it my home. Despite having over 18,000 members, this community has always felt like a family for me, and I would not be who I am today without the mentorship, support, and friendship from the Endocrine Society. As I finish my presidency year, I am incredibly grateful and honored that I had the chance to give back to this amazing group of people who have done so much for me. What a great year, capped by an awesome meeting that I got to share with our wonderful URMC colleagues and friends.”

View the full list of presentations. Abstracts available online.

Watch the Presidential Address (10 minutes)