News — In 2023, Dr. Monica Bianco, was awarded the EnVision III Grant through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This grant funds the training of endocrinologists in the care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis related endocrine diseases. As a result, Dr. Bianco has now fully integrated into the multidisciplinary Cystic Fibrosis Center and sees patients with cystic fibrosis-related endocrine diseases, and is researching novel ways to diagnose CF related diabetes using continuous glucose monitors.
She and third-year fellow Claire Moore presented their research “Utility of Continuous Glucose Monitors in Earlier Detection of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes” at the NACFC annual conference in Boston in fall of 2024. At this conference, Lurie Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Center was awarded the Outstanding QI Award.
Currently Dr. Bianco and Dr. Moore are working on a prospective pilot study for detection of CF-related Diabetes. The study will investigate the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), wearable devices that measure blood sugar values frequently, to look for patterns in blood sugars that suggest progression toward or are consistent with diagnosis of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.
The Bone Health Program continues to grow under the leadership of Endocrinologist Jennifer Miller, MD, Orthopedic Specialist Jay Janicki, MD, and RN coordinator, Maggie Ryan. The team has welcomed Endocrinologist Naiomi Gunaratne-Breaux, MD, who joined in fall 2024. The team also added three advanced practice providers specialized in orthopaedics: Tara Counts, PA-C, Katie Hentz Venn, APN, and Andrea Sanchez, APN. The program now offers more outpatient clinical availability in expanded locations, additional integration into new multidisciplinary programs, and more comprehensive weekly inpatient consultation availability.
Lurie Children's Bone Health Program is the lead site for a multicenter evaluation of bisphosphonate utilization to help standardize care nationally. Dr Miller is the lead principal investigator and Dr Gunaratne-Breaux is a co-investigator. The program also participates in industry-sponsored studies for ENPP1 deficiency and hypophosphatasia.
The program has also created new tools and clinical care guidelines that will go live throughout 2025:
Justin Dey, MD, joined the team as an Attending Physician and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is board-certified in pediatrics. He sees general endocrinology and diabetes patients at Lurie Children’s Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Lurie Children’s at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital.
Abigayil Dieguez, MD, has joined the team as an Attending Physician and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Dieguez was a former fellow with Lurie Children’s Division of Endocrinology and is board-certified in pediatrics. She sees diabetes patients at Lurie Children’s Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park and general endocrinology patients at Lurie Children’s main hospital location in downtown Chicago.
Naiomi Gunaratne-Breaux, MD, has joined the team as an Attending Physician and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is board-certified in pediatrics. She treats patients in the multidisciplinary Bone Health Program and also sees patients for general endocrinology.
Farah Khatoon, MD, has joined the team as an Attending Physician and a Health System Clinician of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is board-certified in pediatric endocrinology and pediatrics. She sees general endocrinology and diabetes patients at the Arlington Heights outpatient location.
To celebrate Turner Syndrome Awareness Month, the Turner Syndrome Program's Clinical Program Manager Danielle Lee and the Turner Syndrome Family Partnership Committee organized two events for its community: a pizza party and a support group for parents and caregivers.
Turner Syndrome Family Partnership Committee played an integral part in organizing the community events. This committee, facilitated by Danielle Lee, LCSW, includes parent volunteers and program physicians. The group regularly discusses ways to improve the program, shapes the critical care the program provides families, and plans engagement events for their community.
In early February, the program and committee organized a pizza party to celebrate its patients and families. Families could meet others going through similar journeys and continue to build their community. Families also connected with the program’s specialists, including Reema Habiby, MD, Wendy Brickman, MD, Lauren Robinson, RN, and Genetic Counsellor Beth Leeth, MS, CGC.
Later in the month, parents and caregivers can join a virtual support group, “Am I Doing the Right Thing.” The event, led by pediatric psychologists Jackie Papadakis, PhD, and Zach Hult, PhD, will be a conversation about parental pressures.
RSS