Personnel
Section Chief
Jack A. Yanovski, M.D., Ph.D. is Chief of the Section on Growth and Obesity in the Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics. Dr. Yanovski obtained his medical degree in 1986 at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was also awarded a Ph.D. in Physiological Psychology in 1989. After residency training in Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Yanovski completed a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the NIH, conducting clinical and basic research with Drs. Gordon Cutler, George Chrousos, and Lynette Nieman in the Developmental Endocrinology Branch, where he developed the dexamethasone-suppressed ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone test for the differential diagnosis of hypercortisolism. This test has become part of the standard armamentarium of tests used by endocrinologists. Dr. Yanovski remained at the NIH to serve as Chief of Pediatrics for the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center from 1994-1998. In response to the growing problem of pediatric obesity, Dr. Yanovski returned to NICHD to create the Unit on Growth and Obesity in the NICHD’s Developmental Endocrinology Branch and serve as its Head.
Dr. Yanovski has carried out a series of clinical studies related to the evaluation and treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adults, as well as laboratory investigations of the molecular etiologies of obesity. His randomized controlled trials have elucidated the limitations of current pharmacotherapeutic approaches for treatment of pediatric obesity and his observational studies have demonstrated the importance of disinhibited eating behaviors for pediatric obesity. His lab has also elucidated the roles of the melanocortin 3 receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human body weight regulation. Dr. Yanovski has authored or co-authored over 250 manuscripts and has served as a regular reviewer for the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, JAMA, and many other journals. He has served as a standing member of the NSCF, NIH Study Section, as a consultant for FDA advisory panels, and on the editorial boards of several obesity, pediatric, and endocrine journals. Dr. Yanovski has also served as Chair of The Obesity Society’s annual Scientific Meeting. Among other awards, he has received the NIH Director’s Ruth L. Kirschstein Mentoring Award, the Bar-Or Award for Excellence in Pediatric Obesity Research from The Obesity Society, and the Public Health Service’s Outstanding Service Medal for innovative studies on obesity.
Section Personnel Email Addresses
| Tusharkumar Patel, PhD | tusharkumar.patel@nih.gov | Postdoctoral Fellow |
|---|---|---|
| Natasha A. Schvey, PhD | natasha.schvey@nih.gov | Research Collaborator |
| Lisa Shank, PhD | lisa.shank@nih.gov | Research Collaborator |
| Sheila Brady, FNP | bradys@mail.nih.gov | Nurse Practitioner |
| Robin Roberson, BS | robersor@mail.nih.gov | Lab Manager |
| Meghan Byrne, MA | meghan.byrne2@nih.gov | Research Collaborator, Graduate Student |
| Sarah Russell, MA | sarah.russell@nih.gov | Research Collaborator, Graduate Student |
| Sarah Rubin, BS | sarah.rubin@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Sophie Ramirez, MA | sophie.ramirez@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Jordan Levine, BS | jordan.levine@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Adrian Wong, BA | adrian.wong@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Risha Sheni, BS | risha.sheni@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Kaitlin Ballenger, BA | kaitlin.ballenger@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Nicol Tugarinov, BS | nicol.tugarinov@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Eliana Ramirez, BS | eliana.ramirez@nih.gov | Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow |
| Deborah Altman, BA | deborah.altman@nih.gov | Special Volunteer Research Coordinator |
| Taylor Swanson, BA | taylor.swanson@nih.gov | Special Volunteer Research Coordinator |
Lab Photo Archive
View the archive of SGO Photos here: SGO Photo Archive
Address for Section Staff:
Section on Growth and Obesity
Division of Translational Medicine
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
Hatfield Clinical Research Center
Building 10, Room 1-3330
10 Center Dr., MSC 113
Bethesda, MD 20892-1103
- Tel 301-496-4686
- Fax 301-402-0574
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