Diabetes expert Dr. Jake Kushner elected vice president of the Society for Pediatric Research

HOUSTON - (April 24, 2012) - Dr. Jake Kushner, renowned leader in diabetes treatment and research at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, has been elected vice president of the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR).

With his official duties beginning fall 2012, Kushner will serve a total of four years with the SPR. He will first serve a one year term as vice president, followed by a one year term as president elect, a one year term as president and finally, as past president, with his term concluding in 2016. Kushner, a McNair Scholar in diabetes at BCM, is chief of diabetes and endocrinology at Texas Children's and head of the pediatric diabetes and endocrinology section at BCM.


The Society's mission is to advance academic pediatrics by promoting pediatric research and scholarship, as well as cultivating excellence, diversity and equity in the field of pediatrics through advocacy, scholarship, education and leadership development.

"Dr. Kushner's direction of the Diabetes and Endocrinology programs at Texas Children's and Baylor College of Medicine is truly outstanding," said Dr. Mark Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's and chair of pediatrics at BCM. "We commend him on this tremendous honor as we know his leadership will make a significant impact on the Society for Pediatric Research."


Kushner joined BCM and Texas Children's in 2011. His research focuses on improving the health of children and adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, contributing to the development of novel cell-based insulin replacement therapies. He is an active National Institutes of Health-funded investigator with research focused on pancreatic beta-cell homeostasis and regeneration.


Ranked 10th in the nation for its diabetes and endocrine program, the Texas Children's Hospital Diabetes and Endocrinology Care Center provides diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care to children and adolescents with endocrine system diseases and disorders including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, growth hormone deficiency; hypo/hyperthyroidism, hyper/hypocalcemia and precocious puberty. The clinic also treats and educates diabetes patients and their families in self-management of all aspects of types 1 and 2 diabetes, a disease 15,000 U.S. children are diagnosed with each year.


Kushner earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and his medical degree from Albany Medical College in New York. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Brown University and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Children's Hospital of Boston. Early in his career, Kushner served as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and an instructor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Kushner is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric endocrinology, his research has been published in more than 30 peer-reviewed journals and he has given more than 50 lectures, presentations and research seminars.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.