Lexi Dias, DO
My name is Lexi Dias and I am a third year pediatric endocrine fellow at Yale. My training has taken me to many interesting places, but I am originally from Wilmington, North Carolina. Perhaps not dissimilar from others in our field, my journey into pediatric endocrinology started early in life. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an infant. Thanks to my amazing parents and a wonderful pediatric endocrinologist, I grew up to understand diabetes as a unique part of my identity. We traveled to Duke every few months for my care and over time I grew to admire my pediatric endocrinologist, the fantastic Dr. Michael Freemark. I remember being excited to see him before each visit and over time came to appreciate the thoughtful way he approached my care. I knew early on that I wanted to provide the same kind of supportive care for others and set out on my journey to becoming a physician. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I chose to pursue an undergraduate education in the research triangle at Duke University with a focus on biologic basis of behavior.
My interests led me to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program where I joined Dr. Lorenzo Leggio’s lab at the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. My work focused on neuropsychoendocrinology, specifically studying the effects of hormone modulation on alcohol consumption. These projects led to publication of IV alcohol’s effect on plasma ghrelin levels and the safety of ghrelin receptor inverse agonist when co-administered with alcohol. My time in Washington D.C. was also spent directing the NIH acapella group, the Nerds in Harmony, where I met my future husband. Following my two years with the IRTA program, I attended medical school at Lincoln Memorial University in Eastern Tennessee. I subsequently completed my pediatrics residency training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at Washington University and was fortunate to have the mentorship of Dr. Ana María Arbeláez who was instrumental in my career development.
Pediatric endocrinology has always felt like the perfect fit for me, and it may come as no surprise that I am extremely passionate about type 1 diabetes. My research interests in fellowship have centered around providing care for higher-risk populations living with type 1 diabetes and working to ensure healthcare equity and access for these groups. One such project is aimed at improving the process of transitioning to adult care in young adults living with type 1 diabetes. I am incredibly thankful for the unwavering support of many mentors and colleagues throughout fellowship, particularly my amazing mentors, Dr. Jennifer Sherr and Dr. Michelle Van Name, who have helped me to navigate the world of diabetes research.
During my second year of fellowship, I was unfortunately diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While the news was (and still is) staggering, I am so thankful that I have been able to continue my fellowship training towards my dream of becoming a pediatric endocrinologist. I have been so lucky to have an army of supporters and a wonderful work family at Yale, including two extremely supportive program directors during my fellowship, Dr. Jasmine Gujral and Dr. Anisha Patel. As a pediatric endocrine fellow, I’ve witnessed the incredible resilience of my young patients and their families in the face of adversity. Their battles, faced with bravery and smiles, inspire me daily. They’ve taught me that even in our most vulnerable moments, there is strength to be found and joy to be cherished. I carry this mantra forward on my own health journey. I am excited to say that I am nearing the end of my fellowship and look forward to the future providing high quality care through our society’s amazing work and efforts in this field.