Dear Colleagues,
This winter is bringing lots of flurries, both of actual snow (16” at my house this week on top of that remaining from the January storm) and of PES activities. Multiple education programs and webinars were delivered as part of the PES Education Committee Webinar Series and the PES SIG State of the Art Series, with many more on the horizon. There is so much to learn and never quite enough time. But don’t worry. If you missed any of the live presentations, PES members can still view the recordings, along with many earlier offerings, at: https://pedsendo.org/education-events/online-education/. Our Mission Alliance Partners also contribute through the Industry Sponsored Seminar Series.
While I enjoyed learning something new about endocrine disorders and their treatments, I equally enjoyed all the chocolate gifted to me for the December holidays and Valentine’s Day this month (I still have a stockpile). Did you know that chocolate has been used medicinally for centuries? The therapeutic use of cacao, as both a remedy on its own and as a vehicle for other medicines, originated in the New World among the Olmec, Maya, and Mexica (Aztec). They used it to treat angina, constipation, dental tartar problems, dysentery, indigestion, fatigue, gout, and hemorrhoids. This practice spread to Europe in the mid‑1500s, where chocolate was used to help undernourished patients gain weight, stimulate “apathetic, exhausted, or feeble” nervous systems, and improve digestion and kidney and bowel function. Cacao was even used to treat conditions we now associate with endocrinology, such as poor breast milk production and decreased libido. Today, dark chocolate is still recognized for potential health benefits thanks to its antioxidants.
We also celebrated Presidents’ Day this month, honoring George Washington’s birthday. Interestingly, he was quite fond of chocolate, which was primarily consumed then as a warm beverage. His largest recorded purchase was 50 pounds (!), just three months before his death in 1799.
To quote Charles M. Schulz (for the younger generation: the cartoonist who created Peanuts, featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy): “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”
References:
- Lippi Chocolate in History: Food, Medicine, Medi-Food. Nutrients 2013, 5, 1573-1584
- Dillinger TL et al. Food of the gods: cure for humanity? A cultural history of the medicinal and ritual use of chocolate. JNutr. 2000 Aug;130(8S Suppl):2057S-72S.
- The Washingtons and Chocolate. https://www.mountvernon.org/inn/recipes/the-washingtons-and-chocolate
Laurie E. Cohen, MD
President, PES Board of Directors
NIH Biosketch and Other Support Changes
As previously communicated, effective January 25, 2026, the NIH will transition to new Common Forms for the Biosketch and Other Support documents. All senior and key personnel in grant applications and progress reports will be required to use these forms. To do so, individuals must have both a SciENcv account and an ORCID iD and must generate the forms using SciENcv. In addition, senior and key personnel submitting NIH proposals or holding NIH awards must certify completion of NIH‑compliant Research Security Training. PES has prepared a cheat sheet sharing more detailed guidance. Click here for tips and tricks.
Drug Alert and Recall: Depo-Provera and Increased Risk of Meningioma: FDA-Label Update
Written by: Anna Ryabets-Lienhard, DO as part of Drugs and Therapeutics Committee
New Meds and Tech: Mounjaro (tirzepatide) approved in Pediatrics
Prepared on behalf of PES Drugs and Therapeutics Committee by, Evan Graber, DO, Emily Breidbart, MD, and Neha Patel, DO.
Industry Sponsored Symposia
Real-World Patient and Clinical Perspectives: Preparing Your Pediatric Patients for Successful Care Transitions in Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Wednesday, March 11 I 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Sponsored by Neurocrine BioSciences
Description: Featuring insights from a patient, caregiver, and an expert healthcare provider and researcher, this presentation highlights the clinical and practical challenges involved in the lifelong management of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The speakers will share valuable takeaways from their own experiences navigating the transition from pediatric to adult endocrinology care.
Attendees will learn about the risks associated with transitions of care, including adrenal crisis and gaps in disease management, and discover strategies for early planning, patient empowerment, and standardized hand-off protocols.
Speakers:
- Leslie Pitts, DNP-PhD(c), CPNP-AC, AP-PEN, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
- Kevin, A 26-year-old living with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia and patient ambassador
- Trish, Kevin's mother and caregiver ambassador
Upcoming Online Education
-
State of the Art: Thyroid SIG - Pediatric Thyroid US Series: 1. Normal Thyroid US
Thursday, February 26 I 5:00 PM ET Read more + register
-
PES SEED Webinar (for medical students) - Evaluation and Management of Common Endocrine Emergencies
Tuesday, March 3 I 12:00 PM ET Read more + register
-
State of the Art: DSD SIG - Incorporating patient advocates into the DSD/Intersex Multidisciplinary Clinics
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:00 PM ET Read more + register
-
Quarterly Education Webinar - Thyroid Cancer in Children and Adolescents
Monday, March 16 I 4:00 PM ET Read more + register
-
State of the Art: TREND SIG & PedsEndo365 - Evaluation and Management of DSD
Tuesday, March 24 I 3:00 PM ET Read more + register
Visit our education calendar for more information about our online education offerings and to register: Events for March 2026 – Pediatric Endocrine Society
Health Systems Disparity Spotlight: Shared Decision Making
Submitted by Ilene Fennoy and Ambika Ashraf
Health Systems Disparity Initiative - Pediatric Endocrine Societyhttps://pedsendo.org/education-events/health-systems-disparity-initiative/
Fellow Spotlight: Rachael Mullin, MD
Meet Rachael: February Fellow Spotlight – Rachael Mullin, MD - Pediatric Endocrine Society
APP Spotlight: Karen L. Clark, MMSc, PA‑C
Meet Karen: February APP Spotlight – Karen L. Clark, MMSc, PA‑C - Pediatric Endocrine Society
February Historical Tidbit: Then and Now: This Month in Endocrine History
Submitted by Evan Graber, DO