I became a pediatric endocrinologist because of my desire to make a difference in the lives of children with obesity. The subspecialty training gave me tools to understand the complex systems of hormones and environmental influences on weight control, to better help my patients. My journey took me to Boston Children’s Hospital followed by return to New York and my current position at Columbia University.I provide care for children of all ages with obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, I have expertise in other endocrine conditions, such as thyroid disease, growth hormone disorders, adrenal disorders, and bone related abnormalities. I enjoy working at Columbia West Side Pediatrics on 86th Street with a close-knit group of clinicians and staff who care deeply about the health and well-being of children and their families.There are many ways to manage endocrine conditions, and input from the family is one of the key pillars of care. I believe in empowering patients and their families with knowledge about their conditions so that they can share in decision making. Working together, we make it easier to navigate tough decisions and challenging paths.My research is focused on the genetic causes of early onset severe weight gain in children and adults. We are aiming to identify novel genetic causes of excessive weight gain, with a special focus on children from diverse backgrounds. We invite families to join in research efforts that require a large number of participants. Additionally, we are studying a rare condition called ROHHAD (rapid onset obesity, hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation and autonomic dysfunction) syndrome, where children have severe weight gain early in life and a variety of other issues. My work extends into the study of physiological changes after weight loss surgery in adults and adolescents. The long-term goal of this work is to improve our understanding of weight gain and loss, to allow development of new therapies.Aside from clinical practice and research, I teach doctors in training, students from Institute of Human Nutrition, and students from the Mailman School of Public Health. I coach children from middle and high school in science and scientific methods. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and teenage children exploring the woods and mountains in New York and New England. Dr. Thaker is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Obesity in Children, Lowe Syndrome, Neonatal Hypothyroidism, and Gastric Bypass.

Robert Rapaport is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Rapaport is highly rated in 18 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency, Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), Short Stature (Growth Disorders), and Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS).

Joan Han is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Han is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity, Obesity in Children, Tetrasomy X, and Acanthosis Nigricans.

Laurie E. Cohen, MD, is Chief, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes and Professor, Pediatrics at Montefiore Einstein. An expert in growth disorders and short stature in children, Dr. Cohen also specializes in endocrine issues experienced by childhood cancer survivors, such as growth hormone deficiency and decreased fertility. Dr. Cohen is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Sheehan Syndrome, Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Despoina M. Galetaki, MD, is an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Galetaki’s clinical interests span a broad spectrum of endocrine disorders, including those related to growth, puberty and thyroid function, as well as pituitary disorders and cancer survivorship. She is also dedicated to delivering comprehensive care for individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Galetaki is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Hypochondroplasia, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Cerebral Hypoxia, and Turner Syndrome.

Natasha Leibel is a Pediatric Endocrinologist and a Pediatrics provider in New York, New York. Dr. Leibel is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Dr. Leibel is currently accepting new patients.

Christopher Romero is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Romero is highly rated in 23 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Panhypopituitarism, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Sheehan Syndrome, and Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Madeleine Harbison is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Harbison is highly rated in 18 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Russell-Silver Dwarfism, Cardiomyopathic Lentiginosis, Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome, and Noonan Syndrome.

Michael Wajnrajch is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Wajnrajch is highly rated in 4 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency, Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), Gaucher Disease, Kearns-Sayre Syndrome, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Mahalakshmi Gopalakrishnamoorthy is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Englewood, New Jersey. Dr. Gopalakrishnamoorthy is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), Familial Short Stature (FSS), Short Stature (Growth Disorders), and Precocious Puberty.

Alaa Hussain is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. Dr. Hussain is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), Familial Short Stature (FSS), and Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD).

Steven Ghanny is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. Dr. Ghanny is highly rated in 3 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), Familial Short Stature (FSS), and Congenital Hypothyroidism.

Brittany Wise is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Wise is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Precocious Puberty, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Hypogonadism, and Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism.

Oksana Lekarev is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Lekarev is highly rated in 2 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Intersex, Newborn Low Blood Sugar, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Shoshana Tell is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. Dr. Tell is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency, Hypoaldosteronism, and Triple A Syndrome.

Mary Horlick is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Dr. Horlick is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top area of expertise is Obesity.

Sarah Orton is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Bronx, New York. Dr. Orton is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Precocious Puberty, Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Familial Short Stature (FSS), and Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS).

Dr. Vargas specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and is an engaged educator. Dr Vargas joined our faculty in 1998. She has played an active role in the clinical care of pediatric patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center (NBDC), where she was an integral part in the establishment of its Pediatric component. Her work has focused on curriculum development for patient education in diabetes management and most recently in nutrition education. These efforts include hands-on and virtual cooking demonstrations as well as contributing to the NBDC monthly newsletter topics such as incorporating healthful foods and treats that can help maintain or improve blood sugar control. Dr Vargas participated in the establishment of a Pediatric Obesity Center, now called the Program for Overweight Education and Reduction (POWER) Clinic. She is involved in several ongoing clinical trials; recruiting patients from the community to participate in efforts to promote and study changes in lifestyle and their effect on childhood obesity. Dr. Vargas received a Master of Science in Nutrition at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University 2/2017. Her thesis research addressed childhood obesity prevention and management in an academic teaching center with a specific focus on resident education. Her findings lead to her involvement in curricular development for the medical student Pediatric Clerkship curriculum in nutrition and obesity which commenced July 2017. She is also co-chairing a committee on Developing a Pediatric Residency Training Curriculum in Nutrition and Obesity since 2018. Dr. Vargas and Dr. John Rausch worked with two residents on their scholarly projects on Culinary Medicine and focusing on the concept of Food as Medicine and are working on integrating their findings to improve outpatient care. In addition, she is involved with Kyle Murray, RD, CDE from NYP-CHALK in giving a monthly nutrition education workshop to the pediatric residents during their outpatient clinical rotation “Social Determinants of Health, Food Insecurity and Introduction to Culinary Medicine” where the residents get to do hands-on cooking demonstrations. She truly feels that Nutrition in our current environment needs to be well taught and that improving our diet quality can prevent and treat diseases such as diabetes. She is currently pursuing a Culinary Medicine Specialist Certification with expected completion spring 2021. Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Jee-young Ham is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in New York, New York. Her top areas of expertise are Hypoaldosteronism, Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency, Triple A Syndrome, and Adrenal Insufficiency Pediatric. Dr. Ham is currently accepting new patients.

Liane Eng, MD, is Co-Director, Pediatric Thyroid Nodule Clinic at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Course Director, Pediatric Endocrinology Elective and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Eng’s clinical focus is on thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in the pediatric population. Dr. Eng is highly rated in 1 condition, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Adrenal Insufficiency Pediatric, Addison's Disease, Neonatal Hypothyroidism, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and Thyroidectomy.

Elizabeth Burtman is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Tenafly, New Jersey. Her top areas of expertise are Adrenal Insufficiency Pediatric, Addison's Disease, and Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Javier Aisenberg is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. His top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Congenital Hypothyroidism, Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, and Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Genna Klein is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. Her top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Short Stature (Growth Disorders), Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), and Sheehan Syndrome.

Shulamit Lerner is a Pediatric Endocrinologist and an Endocrinologist in Bronx, New York. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity and Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Henry Anhalt is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. His top areas of expertise are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Low Blood Sugar, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and Obesity in Children.