The Department of Pediatrics Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, led by Section Chief Dr. David Sparling, is a core component of the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at OU Medicine. Harold Hamm Diabetes Center is reducing the devastating impact of diabetes through cutting-edge research, world-class treatment options, education, and meaningful prevention programs.
Clinical and Community Services
Our team provides outstanding care across the state of Oklahoma and surrounding regions to children and adolescents having any sort of endocrinologic disorder, including diabetes. We pride ourselves in our commitment to respond to the rising demands of this medical field, particularly the ongoing epidemics of obesity and diabetes. This commitment includes a focus not only on meeting the clinical needs of the patients, families, and referring physicians, but also a commitment to finding cures and better treatments through research into the problems responsible. Our team provides care for children and families of children with endocrinologic disorders, including thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, growth, gonad, metabolism, and disorders of sexual development. Through our ADA-accredited diabetes program, the diabetes team focuses on the education and care of children with diabetes, including type 1, type 2, Cystic Fibrosis-related, genetic or secondary diabetes, and those transitioning to adult diabetes care. Our medical providers and other section members staff Camp Blue Hawk, a summer residential camp for children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. In 2018, Camp Blue Hawk hosted more than 100 campers, ages 9-17. You can find more information about services here.
Our clinics are located in the OU Children's Physician's Building on the OU Health Center campus, and in several satellite clinics at Mercy Hospital, the Children's Center in Bethany, and American Indian clinics in Ada, Ardmore, Durant, and Talihina. In 2018, our section had 9,528 outpatient encounters and 1,007 inpatient hospital encounters.
Research
In 2018, our Section research activities were funded by $1.7 million in grants and contracts, with the great majority coming from the National Institutes of Health. We are especially proud of our Section's involvement in TODAY, the first randomized clinical trial for diabetes treatment in children. The DISCOVERY Study takes the next step seeking new knowledge about risk factors for youth who may go on to develop Type 2 Diabetes. As faculty members have joined our program, we have greatly expanded our research activities and fellowship training opportunities. In 2018, our Section research effort resulted in 58 publications and abstracts.
The Children's Hospital Foundation (CHF) Pediatric Metabolic Research Program, established in 2006, consists of five $2,000,000 Endowed Chairs, supporting research related to diabetes in children. Two of the existing Endowed Chairs were developed in partnership with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, a testimony to our close working relationships with American Indian nations and tribes, as well as our commitment to research involving American Indian health. Dr. Kevin Short and Dr. David Fields, were selected in 2014 to be the Choctaw Nation and Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chairs, respectively. Dr. Fields serves as the Director of the Pediatric Metabolic Research Program. The Program uses state-of-the-art technology to address the metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes and its causes. All of the methods employed by the Program have been developed specifically for research involving children, and are available in only a handful of centers world wide. The Program also acts as a fertile training ground for Fellows preparing for an academic career in Pediatric Endocrinology. Dr. Jeanie Tryggestad serves as the Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair, while Dr. David Sparling is the Paul and Ann Milburn Chair.
Teaching
Our section has a long track record in mentoring medical students, residents, and trainees in clinical and research experiences.