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January 29, 2025

January Fellow Spotlight – Marinés Castillo Echevarría, MD

Marinés Castillo Echevarría, MD

My name is Marinés Castillo Echevarría, an Endocrinology Fellow in my final year of training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics. I am originally from Puerto Rico where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus. I obtained my medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Jalisco, México, and completed a pre-internship program at Metropolitan Hospital Dr. Pila in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Subsequently, I completed my pediatric residency at the Centro Médico Episcopal San Lucas & Ponce Health Sciences University Consortium in Ponce, Puerto Rico before beginning my fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

As a fellow, it is necessary to have a balance between personal life and work, and this balance must be maintained to achieve success in both aspects of life. To promote my mental and emotional health, I enjoy activities such as solving Sudoku, exercising, and painting in my free time. Painting is a hobby I recently discovered during my fellowship, and one of my goals is to create a series of paintings depicting each endocrine organ to display in my office.

My interest in endocrinology began during my fourth year of medical school while taking a general endocrinology course. It was during that time that I developed a passion for the challenges this field presents. I vividly remember purchasing an endocrinology textbook and telling myself, “One day, you’ll be an endocrinologist.” Years later during my pediatric residency, I gained a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be an endocrinologist, and I learned to appreciate the hardships both the patients and their families face with each chronic diagnosis, especially in diabetes. Dr. Lydia Irizarry, my initial pediatric endocrine mentor, taught me that endocrinology could be challenging but ultimately incredibly rewarding. The patient experiences I encountered as a pediatric resident, along with the mentorship I received, further cultivated and solidified my dedication and interest in this field.

I find the complexity of calcium-related conditions intriguing. One of the aspects I find most rewarding in pediatric endocrinology is managing hypocalcemic disorders, such as pseudohypoparathyroidism. Thus far, my primary passion in this field has been clinical practice, with a particular focus on disease prevention. As a pediatrician, I understand the importance of early intervention. While some pediatric endocrine disorders arise unexpectedly, others can be mitigated or prevented through timely screenings and lifestyle changes. Prevention is a key focus in my work as a pediatric endocrinologist. Given the increasing prevalence of alternative diets and dietary preferences, one of my long-term goals is to educate the public on the critical role of vitamin D supplementation in maintaining bone health. This is particularly crucial for exclusively breastfed infants and older children to prevent serious health complications as they grow and develop. Advocating and educating on vitamin D supplementation is deeply personal, as I have encountered cases of fatal outcomes related to vitamin D deficiency during my training, which is both unimaginable and completely preventable.
Another passion I have is engaging in clinical research and writing case reports for poster presentations in regional and national meetings. These experiences provide valuable opportunities to enhance our understanding and appreciate the diverse presentations of patient cases worldwide. I find case reports particularly compelling because they bridge gaps in knowledge and foster collaboration among medical professionals. As I discover intriguing cases within my practice, I am driven to document and subsequently share them; in this way, I foster continuing education by contributing knowledge to the broader medical community. I also enjoy participating in educational events such as presenting “hot topics” to my fellow peers and conducting virtual meetings with pediatric residents to review general endocrine topics.

My research journey began with the vital guidance I received from Dr. Jessica Schmitt. Her mentorship has been essential in building my confidence within the field of research as well as achieving professional milestones. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Gail Mick, Dr. Mary Lauren Scott, and Dr. Giovanna Beauchamp for their unwavering commitment to my success as a physician since my first day of training. Their expertise, wisdom, and dedication have been crucial to my development as a pediatric endocrine fellow and soon-to-be attending. Their support has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of patient care and delivering the highest quality care with empathy and respect. My ultimate goal as a pediatric endocrinologist is to eventually return to Puerto Rico to deliver exceptional patient care and support those in need, using the knowledge and skills I have gained throughout my training.

Posted in Fellow Spotlight
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