Preceptorship Program -2011

Preceptorship in Metabolic Bone Diseases held at Columbia University Medical Center

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 16-May 27, 2011. The faculty of the Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit comprised of Drs. John P. Bilezikian, Ethel S. Siris, Elizabeth Shane, Shonni J. Silverberg, Mishaela Rubin, Emily Stein, Aubrey Stoch, Marcella Walker, Adi Cohen, Donald McMahon, Stavroula Kousteni, Emily Stein, Serge Cremers, David Dempster, Robert Lindsay, Felicia Cosman, and Jeri Nieves as well as other participating Columbia faculty (Patricia Ducy, Gerard Karsenty, Thomas Nickolas, Alison Pack, Wylie Hembree, Ronald Staron, and Michael Yin,) all taught in this comprehensive introduction to basic and clinical aspects of metabolic bone diseases.  Professor Clifford Rosen (The Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education, Senior Staff Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory) served as our outstanding guest faculty. As illustrated by the schedule of activities, the 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 who were selected (see photograph) learned in an environment that was workshop oriented. There was ample time, thus, 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 now 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. The Preceptorship was supported by unrestricted educational grants from Amgen, Eli Lilly, Merck, Eli Lilly, and Warner-Chilcott.

Photo Caption: Back Row (Left to Right): Monica Glover (Baylor College of Medicine), Aarti Arasu (U California, San Francisco), Melissa Price (Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine), Bianca Alfonso (Beth Israel Medical Center), Konstantinos Toulis (Aristotle University), Noga Minksy (Mount Sinae School of Medicine), Naga Yalla (University of Kentucky). Front Row (left to right): Nalurporn Chokrungvaranon (Banner Good Samaritan Hospital/VA Health Care System, Phoenix Arizona), Dr. Bilezikian, Marisa Censani (Columbia University Medical Center, College of Physicians & Surgeons), Sofiya Milman (Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine).

Preceptorship in Endocrine Aspects of Metabolism and Diabetes

October 2011 Attendees

Seated (left to right):  Aysha Inakur, M.D, University of Kentucky  Smita Abraham, M.D. (preceptorship director), Rebecca Hicks, M.D., Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Stephanie Chung, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine Standing (left to right):  Qin Yang, M.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tracy Tylee, M.D., University of Washington, Jonathan Howell, M.D., Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center