At her 2011 Harvard University Class Day address, Amy Poehler said “You can’t do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” That’s the beauty of the PES. It gives us great opportunities to work together and learn from each other. In fact, our organization has grown so much that we require additional support from Degnon and some shifts in responsibilities. New to our team is Sonja Hix, Association Manager, Education and Member Experience. She joins Maureen Thompson, Executive Director, Director of Strategic Engagement; Jessica Widing, Associate Executive Director, Director of Strategy and Operations; Jason Fluke, Association Manager, Professional Development and Community Engagement; and Ryan Gorham, Coordinator.
This month, I want to highlight the hard work of the Practice Management Committee. At the recent PES Division Chiefs’ meeting, Soumya Adhikari presented preliminary findings from the committee’s Practice Leads Survey. Data collected include, but are not limited to, region, practice type, physician clinical FTEs, salaries, support staff, fellows, clinical sessions per week, and RVU requirements. Analysis is underway, and the results should help pediatric endocrinology leaders understand how their institution’s support and expectations compare to others, as well as help guide PES advocacy efforts. Stay tuned for the full results.
Sincerely,
Laurie E. Cohen, MD
President, PES Board of Directors
Call for 2026 Annual Meeting Abstracts
Deadline: Tuesday, December 9
The Pediatric Endocrine Society invites you to submit your research for presentation at the 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place April 30–May 3 in San Francisco, California. Abstracts are due by Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern.
Your work plays a vital role in shaping the meeting’s scientific program and advancing knowledge in our field. Don’t miss this chance to share your findings, connect with colleagues, and contribute to meaningful discussions. For submission instructions and guidelines, click here PES-2026-Call-for-Abstracts-Final.pdf
Submit your abstract through our online submission portal. Please contact abstracts@pedsendo.org with any questions.
We look forward to your contributions!
2026 PedsENDO Discovery Applications Now Open
Submission Deadline: January 9, 2026
Applications for this year’s PedsENDO Discovery Program are officially open.
Since its launch, this initiative has been one of our most impactful efforts to grow the pediatric endocrinology pipeline; introducing bright, curious medical students to our field and connecting them with the leaders who shape it. We encourage you to share this opportunity widely within your institutions. Your support in reaching emerging clinicians is what makes this program such a success, and we look forward to engaging with the next class of future pediatric endocrinologists.
2026 Grant Applications Now Open
Now Accepting 2026 Junior Faculty Grants, Research Fellowship Grants, and Health Disparities Research Grant Applications
All Applications Deadlines: December 15 @ 5:00 PM ET
Junior Faculty Grants (up to $50,000 total costs for 1 year)
The PES Junior Faculty Research Grants and Fima Lifshitz Junior Faculty Clinical Research Grants are designed to promote the early career research development of academic pediatric endocrinologists. The amount and number of grants awarded each year may vary based on the scopes of the projects proposed.
Please click on the link below to access detailed instructions, requirements, and to submit an application.
JFG – Junior Faculty Grant including the Fima Lifshitz JFG PES Junior Faculty Research Grants – Pediatric Endocrine Society
Research Fellowship Grants (up to $30,000 total costs for 1 year)
The PES Research Fellowship Grants and Human Growth Foundation Research Fellowship Grants are designed to support the final year of research training in a pediatric endocrinology fellowship for highly qualified individuals preparing for a career in academic pediatric endocrinology. Both clinical and basic research projects are eligible. One grant focused on growth, bone, and rare general endocrine disorders will be selected each year to receive the Human Growth Foundation Research Fellowship Grant.
Please click on the link below to access detailed instructions, requirements, and to submit an application.
RFG – Research Fellowship Grants including the Human Growth Foundation RFG PES Research Fellowship Grants – Pediatric Endocrine Society
Health Disparities Research Grant (up to $50,000 total costs for 1 year)
The PES EDI Grant is designed to support fellows in their 2nd or 3rd year of training or early faculty members to conduct research, clinical or educational endeavors that address health disparities and/or focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of pediatric endocrinology. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to, an increased understanding of implicit and explicit bias, career development of minority physicians, quality improvement, healthcare outcomes, equity in mentorship and outreach efforts.
Please click on the link below to access detailed instructions, requirements, and to submit an application.
Health Disparities Research Grant Addressing Health Disparities Research Grant – Pediatric Endocrine Society
Calling All Fellows: 2026 Spring Retreat Applications Now Being Accepted
Deadline: Monday, December 8
The Spring Retreat is designed for current pediatric endocrinology fellows, either in the first year (2-year program) or second year of training (3–4-year program). The 2026 Retreat will be held from April 27-29, 2026, in San Francisco, CA, leading up to the Annual Meeting. This retreat aims to enhance critical thinking skills in clinical Pediatric Endocrinology, explore various career paths within the field, and foster networking opportunities with peers and faculty. Participants will prepare and present case studies to an audience of fellows and faculty, gaining valuable experience and feedback.
Learn more and apply! Spring Fellows Retreat – Pediatric Endocrine Society (pedsendo.org)
Announcing the 2026 PES Board of Directors Election Results
We are pleased to announce the newly elected leaders who will serve on the Board of Directors:
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President-Elect: Takara Stanley, MD
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Secretary: Phil Zeitler, MD, PhD
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Director: Lisa Swartz Topor, MD, MMSc
Please join us in congratulating each of them on their election. We are grateful for their commitment to the Society and for their willingness to serve our community. All elected Officers will officially assume office during the Annual Business Meeting at the 2026 PES Annual Meeting, taking place April 30–May 3 in San Francisco, CA.
We look forward to their leadership in the years ahead.
Online Education
Student Endocrinology Exposure Development (SEED) Program
Topic: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
Thursday, December 4 • 12:00 PM EST
The SEED Program is an interactive educational series from the Pediatric Endocrine Society designed to enrich clinical learning for medical students and broaden exposure to the field of pediatric endocrinology.
Calling all medical students!
Know someone interested in pediatric endocrinology? Invite them to join our upcoming SEED session focused on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).
Learning Objectives:
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Review the adrenal steroidogenesis pathway and understand how enzymatic defects lead to CAH
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Identify key clinical manifestations of CAH
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Discuss approaches to management and how treatment may vary based on specific gene mutations
Featured Speaker: Katerina Nella, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology Baylor College of Medicine
Register here: Meeting Registration – Zoom
International Scholar Program Applications
Application Deadline: December 1 @ 11:59 PM ET
Do you know a young pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist from a resource-limited country who would benefit from gaining experience or specific skills in your clinic or laboratory? Are you interested in hosting such a scholar at your institution? The Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) is now accepting applications for the PES International Scholar Award. Two (2) scholarships will be awarded: one for applicants from Central America and the Caribbean, and one for applicants from the rest of the world. This award supports pediatric colleagues with an interest in endocrinology by enabling them to train in the clinics and laboratories of PES members and attend the PES Annual Meeting. The program especially aims to assist younger colleagues and those from countries with limited economic resources.
Health Systems Disparity Spotlight: Beyond the Prescription: Navigating Systemic Barriers
Submitted by: Ambika Ashraf MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ilene Fennoy MD, Columbia University Medical Center
Fellow Spotlight: Peggy Wu, MD
Meet Peggy: November Fellow Spotlight – Peggy Wu, MD – Pediatric Endocrine Society
Historical Tidbit: Vincent Du Vigneaud (May 18, 1901 to December 11, 1978) Nobel Laureate for peptide hormone synthesis
Submitted by Alan D. Rogol, MD, PhD