Welcome to the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Tufts Medical Center, the major teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine. Our distinguished history dates back to the 1940's. For more information on the history of our Division, please continue reading below.
Our Mission
Because the endocrine system controls and integrates many different body functions, endocrine dysfunction can contribute to an enormous range of illnesses affecting virtually every organ system of the body, exacting enormous costs in economic terms and in the quality of life.
Our mission is to provide the highest standards of care to patients with endocrine disorders, to understand the basis of endocrine diseases and normal endocrine physiology through research, and to use this knowledge to improve the lives of patients by developing more effective and selective medical treatments for endocrine and metabolic diseases. We are also committed to passing on our knowledge and expertise to generations of future physicians through our fellowship program.
Services
We offer diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including:
- Thyroid disease
- Pituitary and adrenal diseases
- Diabetes
- Lipid disorders
- Diseases of calcium, osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Staff physicians work closely with referring primary care physicians as well as other subspecialty services including Surgery, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Nutrition and Podiatry to coordinate the diagnosis and management of complex endocrine diseases.
We accept patients referred by physicians as well as individuals who seek help directly.
History
The Division has a distinguished history dating to the 1940's when Dr. Edwin B. Astwood became the first Chief of the Division. During his tenure, a number of advances were made including the introduction of anti-thyroid drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, the use of thyroid hormone therapy for the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, the isolation and preparation of ACTH for clinical use (means what), and the purification of human growth hormone, allowing the first breakthrough treatment for pituitary dwarfism.
In 1972, Dr. Seymour Reichlin, a world renowned leader in the field of Neuroendocrinology (control of the pituitary gland by the brain) and disorders of the thyroid gland, became Chief of the Division. Included in the many outstanding achievements made during his tenure were the development of the first radioimmunoassay for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), elucidation of the sequences of preprosomatostatin and preprothyrotropin-releasing hormone, identification of the origin of the hypothalamic tuberoinfundibular system, studies on the mechanisms of somatostatin and prolactin secretion, demonstration of the importance of the immune system in neuroendocrine regulation, as well as important human studies on the evaluation and treatment of hyperprolactinemia and early diagnosis and treatment of patients with MEN II syndrome. With the construction of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging on the medical campus of Tufts University next to Tufts Medical Center, the Endocrinology program was strengthened further in disorders of lipid, calcium metabolism and obesity.
In 1990, Dr. A.E. Boyd, III, became Chief of the Division and brought with him expertise in Diabetes Mellitus and molecular biology. What followed was a period of rapid growth for the Division, as Dr. Boyd merged the Division of Molecular Medicine with the Division of Endocrinology, and renamed the Division, the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine. The Division moved to a newly renovated 15,000 sq ft facility at 75 Kneeland Street, adjacent to the hospital, to accommodate the increased faculty size and requirements for more research space. Since Dr. Boyd's untimely death in 1995, Dr. Ronald M. Lechan, a faculty member of the Division since 1981, has served as the Chief of the Division. The current members of the Division are proud of this heritage and are committed to maintaining the excellence of the Division.
Administration
Ronald Lechan, MD, PhD, Chief
617-636-5689
Sarah A. McGillowey, Division Manager
617-636-0249
Melanie Evans, Fellowship Program Coordinator, Administrative Assistant
617-636-8920