Abeer Hassoun, MD

Description

My interest in the physical and mental wellbeing of children and adolescents started in medical school and was solidified during my pediatric residency. I cared for underprivileged children and teenagers with growth failure, failure to thrive, and obesity. Those experiences led me to the field of pediatric endocrinology, which provided me with the opportunity to treat children of all ages with a wide spectrum of endocrine disorders. I have a special interest in growth and puberty disorders as well as the late endocrine effects of childhood cancer. My clinical academic background has helped me to build a unique practice in which I take care of very complex patients with endocrine disorders, including oncology patients, transplant patients, and international patients with complex endocrine disorders. My training in pediatric endocrinology and metabolism also sparked my interest in clinical research. In a study funded by the New York Empire Clinical Investigator Program I explored the metabolic effects on children exposed to diabetes in utero, and I also worked on the NIH Bone Mineral Density Childhood Project. Following these projects I had five years of rich experience working with Columbia's Center for Children’s Environmental Health, exploring the effects of air pollution and endocrine disruptors on children’s metabolism and their link to obesity. I have been lucky to share my experience and passion for endocrinology through teaching many pediatric endocrinology fellows, pediatric residents, and medical students. My goal as a physician is intertwined with my goal as an educator—teaching the new generation of physicians the art of pediatric medicine and endocrinology.