What is an endocrinologist?

An endocrinologist is a specially trained clinician who is qualified to diagnosis conditions that affect the glands. They may diagnose and treat hormone imbalances in the endocrine organs, which include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes and pancreas.

Conditions endocrinologists treat

Some of the conditions that are treated by an endocrinologist include cancers of the endocrine glands, cholesterol or lipid disorders, diabetes, hypertension, infertility, lack of growth, menopause, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, over or under production of hormones and thyroid diseases.

Endocrinologists must deal with many systems within the body, and researchers in the endocrinology field have tried to determine how the glands work. Researchers have also developed new drugs and treatments for hormone problems.

After medical school, several years of internship and residency in the fields of pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology, besides specific instruction about hormone diseases, are required before a clinician can become an endocrinologist.

Diagnosis often encompasses evaluating for a variety of symptoms and requires knowledge of clinical chemistry and biochemistry. Many laboratory tests also are used, including diagnostic imaging. Managing these diseases often requires long-term treatment and may involve treating the patient as a whole and maintaining observation of changes at the cellular or molecular level.

Many professional organizations are dedicated to endocrinology, largely because the field encompasses a number of the body’s systems and functions.

Becoming an endocrinologist

It can take at least 10 years to complete all of the requisite coursework and training to become an endocrinologist. The first step is earning a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, followed by 4 years in medical school.

Endocrinologists often complete a residency lasting 3 to 4 years.

Once the schoolwork is complete, endocrinologists must obtain a state license.

Additional information may be found at these websites:

http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/collection/gene_expression

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metabolism/WT00006/

http://www.nature.com/jcbfm/index.html

http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/

http://www.hormone.org/Public/endocrinologist.cfm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002257.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22/?depth=10

http://endo.endojournals.org/