Dr. Julie Hoover-Fong is a Professor of Genetic Medicine and Pediatrics and Director of the Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hoover-Fong holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University, where she also completed her medical degree. She received her Ph.D. in the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Hoover-Fong completed a pediatric internship and residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a fellowship in medical genetics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She joined the Johns Hopkins University faculty in 2002 and progressed to Professor of Genetic Medicine and Pediatrics in 2019. She practices and oversees the clinical operations, research and educational ventures for the patients, families and healthcare providers served by the Greenberg Center. Her clinical team develops and improves diagnostic and treatment guidelines for comprehensive care of patients with all types of bone conditions including dwarfism, orofacial clefting, craniosynostosis and more. Dr. Hoover-Fong also mentors and teaches medical students, residents and genetic medicine trainees. As an active clinical researcher, Dr. Hoover-Fong is the Principal Investigator of multiple global clinical trials for achondroplasia, the first multi-center, investigator-initiated natural history study for achondroplasia, and multiple clinical studies for patients with orofacial clefting, hypophosphatasia and other conditions. She is also a co-investigator on the ELSI and Phenotype Review Committees for the Mendel Project, a whole exome sequencing venture to identify the genetic cause of Mendelian conditions. From an institutional service perspective, Dr. Hoover-Fong serves on the Johns Hopkins Associate Professor Promotions Committee and the Advisory Committee for the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation. She serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Little People of America, is a member of the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence at Johns Hopkins University and is a charter member of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Management Consortium, publishing best practice guidelines for patients with skeletal dysplasias. Dr. Hoover is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Achondroplasia, Rhizomelic Syndrome, Spondyloepimetaphyseal Dysplasia Strudwick Type, Adenoidectomy, and Myringotomy.

Mari Groves is a Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon who cares for children with brain and spinal cord tumors (benign and cancerous), skeletal dysplasia, and spinal deformities such as neuromuscular and early scoliosis. She also sees patients diagnosed with Chiari malformations, spasticity and epilepsy. She specializes in treating patients with all types of spina bifida, including myelomeningocele. As part of the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy, she is an expert in prenatal closure techniques such as minimally invasive fetoscopic repair of myelomeningocele (when the spina bifida defect is repaired before birth). Offering a transitional practice model of care, she follows patients diagnosed with spina bifida from birth to adulthood. Dr. Groves chose to pursue neurosurgery because it allows her to treat patients with complex conditions and help improve the quality of children’s lives. Her research interests focus on pediatric spinal disease and how surgical intervention can impact growth and neurological function during a child’s life. She is committed to building programs that support patients with congenital disorders as they age. Pediatric patients often age out of existing programs and have difficulty locating physicians and treating teams that understand their conditions. At Johns Hopkins, we have a unique ability to provide this type of comprehensive care. Dr. Groves earned her medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2007. She completed residency training in 2014 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she remained for a neurosurgery fellowship, which she finished in 2015. She also completed a spinal deformity fellowship at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. Dr. Groves is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Spinal Tumor, Myelomeningocele, Tethered Cord Syndrome, Osteotomy, and Laminectomy.

Dr. Kristin M. Arcara completed her undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo, and received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. She then completed her residency in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, spending an additional year serving as Chief Resident. She also completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Arcara has been a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Johns Hopkins since 2014. After her fellowship, Dr. Arcara spent one year as a Pediatric Endocrinologist at Children’s National Medical Center before returning to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Arcara’s clinical activities include heading a multidisciplinary Pediatric Diabetes clinic at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, consisting of certified diabetes educators, registered dietitian and a team of psychologists with extensive training and expertise in the unique issues surrounding management of diabetes in children. She also has general pediatric endocrine clinics in which she evaluates and treats a variety of disorders including short stature, abnormal pubertal development, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, pituitary adenoma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and disorders of sexual differentiation, Turner syndrome and Prader Willi syndrome among others. Dr. Arcara is a member of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital’s multidisciplinary Prader Willi Syndrome clinic. Dr. Arcara is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Turner Syndrome, Mixed Gonadal Dysgenesis, and Short Stature (Growth Disorders).

Talia Hitt is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical practice focuses on all endocrine issues, with a particular focus in pediatric diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity. Dr. Hitt received her undergraduate degree from Colby College, after which she performed research in genetics at the Children’s Hospital of Boston. Dr. Hitt then attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where she obtained a dual M.D./M.P.H. (Master of Public Health) degree. She completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, followed by a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. During her fellowship, Dr. Hitt was awarded a prestigious grant from the Pediatric Endocrine Society to support her research in type 2 diabetes. Dr. Hitt also received a second clinical research master’s degree (Master of Science in Health Policy Research) from the University of Pennsylvania during her fellowship. Dr. Hitt’s research focus is on pediatric type 2 diabetes: its development, progression and innovative therapies. She is studying the relationship between insufficient sleep and type 2 diabetes in adolescents. In 2021, Dr. Hitt was awarded a supplemental award to a 2018 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases R01 award studying cardiometabolic risk among South Asian adolescents compared with African American and white peers. Dr. Hitt has additionally studied the clinical implementation of new therapeutics in pediatric diabetes care. Dr. Hitt is affiliated with the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the Endocrine Society, and the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Hitt is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Low Blood Sugar.

Dr. Janet L. Crane is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Crane is the Director of the Pediatric Bone Health Program, which focuses on the care of children with rare metabolic bone diseases and osteoporosis/skeletal fragility syndromes. Dr. Crane received her bachelor’s degree in nutritional science from the University of Missouri. She completed her medical degree at the University of Maryland-Baltimore, residency in pediatrics at Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics in Kansas City, Missouri and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Johns Hopkins University in 2013. Dr. Crane is a faculty member of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research. Her research is focused on bone modeling and remodeling factors that result in proper bone growth and strength. The goal of her studies is to identify diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets to enhance bone strength in children who have recurrent fractures. Dr. Crane also participates in industry sponosored clinical studies to investigate the safety and efficacy of medications for metabolic bone disease and skeletal fragility. Dr. Crane is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Juvenile Primary Osteoporosis, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), and Noonan Syndrome.

Dr. Rebecca Ruebner is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She provides care for children with kidney problems of any type including hypertension, hematuria, proteinuria, kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and kidney transplant. She is the medical director of pediatric dialysis. Dr. Ruebner received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency at Boston Children’s Hospital where she also served as chief pediatric resident. She completed her fellowship in pediatric nephrology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. During her fellowship, she received a Master's Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ruebner became a faculty member at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2012 before joining the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2016. Dr. Ruebner's clinical research is focused on clinical care and outcomes of children with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. Dr. Ruebner is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Chronic Kidney Disease, Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome, D-Plus Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, and Kidney Transplant.

Dr. Meredith Atkinson is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She provides care for children with kidney problems of any type, including patients on dialysis; patients with proteinuria, hematuria and chronic kidney disease; and kidney transplant. Dr. Atkinson's clinical research interests focus on chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease in children. Her specific interests include mechanisms and treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease and racial disparities in patient outcomes. She is the recipient of numerous research grants and awards, including a K23 Patient Oriented Research award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH, and young investigator grants from the National Kidney Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland, the Thrasher Research Fund and Amgen Inc. She is currently the PI of the Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy (RAFT) trial. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from Mount Holyoke College. She earned her M.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She completed a residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins, followed by a fellowship in pediatric nephrology at Hopkins, completed in June 2007. During her fellowship training, Dr. Atkinson received a master’s degree in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Atkinson joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2007. Dr. Atkinson was elected to the Society for Pediatric Research in 2014. She is a member of several professional organizations including the American Society of Nephrology, and is the president of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology for 2024-2026. Dr. Atkinson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Potter Syndrome, Lupus Nephritis, Glomerulonephritis, Anemia, and Kidney Transplant.

Dr. Nara Lygia De Macena Sobreira is an assistant professor at the McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her area of expertise is rare Mendelian phenotypes, analysis of next-generation sequencing, and functional testing of candidate causative variants. She earned her M.D. at the University of Pernambuco in Brazil. She finished her Ph.D. in Human Genetics at Johns Hopkins followed by a one-year postdoc also at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. During her Ph.D., she worked with Dr. David Valle using next-generation sequencing to elucidate the molecular basis of rare Mendelian phenotypes and in 2010 she discovered PTPN11 as the gene responsible for metachondromatosis by using whole-genome sequencing. She completed residencies in clinical genetics at both Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo and Johns Hopkins. Her main clinical and research focus is on identifying the genetic bases of rare phenotypes, mainly, phenotypes associated with cartilage tumors and vascular anomalies (including Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome), and on understanding the physiopathology of these phenotypes to identify pharmacological strategies to treat them. She has worked extensively on developing strategies to better analyze the variants identified by next-generation sequencing and on novel strategies for data sharing. She participated on the development of PhenoDB, a phenotypic and genomic database, and created PhenoDB Variant Analysis Tool used worldwide. She is also one of the creators of GeneMatcher, VariantMatcher, and one of the co-founders of the Matchmaker Exchange, all intended to share next-generation sequencing data. She has also worked extensively on functional studies that evaluate the possible pathogenic effects of the candidate causative variants. Recent News Articles and Media Coverage Living the Hopkins Mission Honorees, Johns Hopkins Medicine Successes in Characterizing Genes through GeneMatcher with Nara L. M. Sobreira, MD, PhD, Ambry Genetics (April 30, 2018) Enfermedades raras: el desafio es encontrar otros pacientes que tienen el mismo mal, Lun (26 de septiembre de 2019) 2021 Science Writers' Boot Camp, Johns Hopkins Medicine (June 7, 2021) Making the Perfect Match, Johns Hopkins Medicine (February 1, 2020). Dr. De Macena Sobreira is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Spondyloepimetaphyseal Dysplasia Strudwick Type, Greenberg Dysplasia, Blepharophimosis, and Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy.

Dr. David W. Cooke is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Cooke’s clinical activities include both a general pediatric endocrine clinic and a pediatric diabetes clinic. His clinical interests include all endocrine disorders in children and adolescents, including short stature, abnormal pubertal development, growth hormone dysregulation, thyroid disorders, hormone deficiencies, hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidis, pituitary adenoma, prolactinoma, goiter, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and disorders of sexual differentiation, Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome, among others. He serves as clinical director of the division of pediatric endocrinology and director of the Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Klinefelter Syndrome Center. Dr. Cooke completed his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and received his medical degree from the Duke University School of Medicine. He then completed his residency in pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he also completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology. He has been a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins since 1993. After his fellowship, Dr. Cooke spent five years of additional research training in the Department of Biological Chemistry at Johns Hopkins, supported by an individual Physician Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Cooke’s past research interest was the molecular basis of insulin resistance and obesity, with studies examining the role the adipocyte plays in these conditions. He had received research funding for these studies from the NIH and from the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Cooke is a recipient of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Institute for Excellence in Education award for Outstanding Achievement in Medical and Biomedical Education. He also has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine. Dr. Cooke is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the American Diabetes Association, the Endocrine Society and Pediatric Endocrinology Society. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Cooke is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Klinefelter Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Precocious Puberty, and Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Roberto Salvatori is an Endocrinologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Salvatori is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), Hypopituitarism, Pituitary Tumor, Cushing's syndrome, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Dr. Gary Wand is a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He holds a joint appointment in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. His areas of clinical expertise include endocrinology, neuroendocrine disorders and pituitary disorders. Dr. Wand serves as the director of the fellowship program and the director of the endocrine training program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Wand earned his M.D. and completed his residency at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He performed a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Johns Hopkins. His research interests include the neurobiology of substance abuse and the physiogenetics of the stress response. Dr. Wand has been recognized in “Best Doctors in America” and is a recipient of the National Institutes of Health Merit Award. Dr. Wand is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Pituitary Tumor, Prolactinoma, Cushing's syndrome, and Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism.

Dr. Melissa Riedy Spevak is an Assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Radiology and Radiological Science. She specializes in pediatric radiology, with an emphasis on imaging of child abuse, pediatric oncologic imaging and pediatric uroradiology. Dr. Spevak received her M.D from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University now known as Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed residencies in radiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and The Children’s Hospital at Harvard University. Dr. Spevak is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Gas Bloat Syndrome, Familial Short Stature (FSS), and Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS).

Dr. Richard Southard’s specialty is in pediatric radiology, with more than 25 years of experience in private practice and hospital settings. He joins Johns Hopkins from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where he is vice chief of Radiology Operations. Previously, he served as a pediatric radiologist, partner and president of Radiology Consultants North Dallas, a Texas-based private practice group. He earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University before going on to an internship and residency in pediatric medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, followed by a diagnostic radiology residency at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and fellowship in pediatric radiology at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital. Dr. Southard’s research has focused on CT radiation dose reduction, imaging of congenital heart disease, implementation and validation of iterative reconstruction noise reduction techniques and dual-energy spectral CT applications in children. He joined the pediatric radiology faculty in February 2023 and will be working remotely from Arizona. Dr. Southard is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Tracheobronchopathia Osteoplastica, Bronchogenic Cyst, Dextrocardia, and Collins Pope Syndrome.

Dr. Comi graduated from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and received her training in pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo and her child neurology training at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Her clinical specialization is in the treatment of the neurological aspects of Sturge-Weber syndrome and other disorders related to capillary malformation. Dr. Comi's clinical research interests focus on improving the early diagnosis and treatment of brain involvement in Sturge-Weber syndrome in order to prevent ischemic brain injury in affected infants and young children, and on studies to understand what causes Sturge-Weber syndrome. Her laboratory research work deals with the pathogenesis of Sturge-Weber syndrome, recently shown to be caused by a somatic mutation, and on developing new drug targets, screening assays, models and therapeutic strategies for Sturge-Weber syndrome. Her lab group also works on developing better neuroprotective and neuroregenerative responses to brain injury resulting from impaired blood flow to the brain. Dr. Comi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Parkes Weber Syndrome, Stork Bite, Epilepsy in Children, and Endovascular Embolization.

Dr. Prasanna Santhanam received his M.B.B.S. from B.J. Medical College and his M.D. from N.H.L. Municipal Medical College. He completed a residency in internal medicine, Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University and a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University. He underwent additional training in nuclear medicine, at the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to pursue his research and clinical interests in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging of endocrine glands and disorders. His clinical interests include thyroid disorders, endocrine neoplasms, and research focus on metabolic and molecular imaging of endocrine tissues and predictive analytics in metabolic disorders. Dr. Santhanam is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Thyroid Cancer, Follicular Thyroid Cancer, Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, and Thyroidectomy.

Dr. Ronadip (Ron) Banerjee is an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His clinical interests include Endocrine Tumors, such as Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, adrenal tumors and disorders, pancreatic and neuroendocrine tumors, pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid disorders. Dr. Banerjee received his B.S. in Biological Sciences with. Dr. Banerjee is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Gestational Diabetes, and Hypogonadism.

Jennifer Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, is a member the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Dr. Mammen practices general endocrinology with a focus on thyroid, adrenal and pituitary disorders. She is actively engaged in research on hormonal function and aging. Dr. Mammen is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Storm, Graves Disease, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Robert Reed is an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Reed is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Acute Interstitial Pneumonia, Lung Transplant, and Endoscopy.

Kashif Munir is an Endocrinologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Munir is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Storm, Pituitary Tumor, and Thyroidectomy.

Carissa Baker is a Pediatric Cardiologist in Baltimore,, Maryland. Dr. Baker is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Short Stature (Growth Disorders). Her top areas of expertise are Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), High Cholesterol, Heart Murmurs, and Hypertension.