Preceptorship Program -2009

Preceptorship in Metabolic Bone Diseases Held at Columbia University

The Preceptorial in Metabolic Bone Diseases, sponsored by the Endocrine Fellows Foundation, was held at Columbia University Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology for a 2-week period from May 27-June 5, 2009. The faculty of the Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit comprised of Drs. John P. Bilezikian, Ethel S. Siris, Elizabeth Shane, Shonni J. Silverberg, Mishaela Rubin, Aubrey Stoch, Jessica Fleischer, Marcella Walker, Adi Cohen, Donald McMahon, Stavroula Kousteni, Emily Stein, Serge Cremers, David Dempster, Robert Lindsay, Felicia Cosman, Jeri Nieves, and Thomas Jacobs, as well as other participating Columbia faculty (Patricia Ducy, Thomas Nickolas, and Wylie Hembree) all taught in this comprehensive introduction to basic and clinical aspects of this field. Dr. Susan Greenspan (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) served as a guest faculty member. The ten participating Fellows gained comprehensive exposure to all the important metabolic bone diseases as well as engaged in discussions related to mechanisms, pathophysiology, evaluation, and therapeutics.  

The Fellows (see photograph) learned in an environment that was workshop oriented. There was ample time not only for formal presentation of material that covered fundamental principles of basic and clinical bone physiology and pathophysiology, but also for active dialogue between the instructors and the Fellows. The Fellows were also introduced to key areas of research such as protocol design, acquisition, interpretation of data, and statistical testing.  Additionally, the Fellows attended conferences, clinical case discussions, the Metropolitan New York Bone Club, and research seminars. The Fellows had the opportunity to investigate a topic of particular interest to them and to present their work to the faculty at the end of the preceptorial period. 

The Preceptorship in Metabolic Bone Diseases has been held at Columbia for over 10 years. As has been the case without exception in the past, this most recent program was met with great enthusiasm by the Fellows who were fortunate to be selected to attend this highly popular program of the Endocrine Fellows Foundation.  Check our website early next year for information on the next Preceptorship in Metabolic Bone Diseases.

Preceptorship attendees from left to right:  Gabriela Szabo, M.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School; Valerie Oram, M.D., Montefiore Medical Center; Jennifer Glueck, M.D., University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Julie Talavera, M.D., St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center; Zinoviy Abelev, M.D., Beth Israel Medical Center; John Bilezikian, M.D.; Sarah Fackler, M.D., Wilford Hall Medical Center; Annie Mavian, M.D., University of California, San Diego; Karen Barnard, M.D., Duke University Medical Center; Alaleh Mazhari, D.O., Loyola University Medical Center; Avia Sopher, M.D., Columbia University Medical Center.