Welcome to Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Clinic. We offer a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of adult and pediatric patients who have diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Adult Clinic Referrals

• Please call our communications center at 615-343-VEDC (8332) to book an appointment.
• If the patient's insurance requires a referral, please be sure to include the referral also. 
• Please fax clinic notes prior to the appointment to 615-343-8346 or 615-343-4953.

For more information, click Referring a Patient to Vanderbilt
For adult doctors who see patients with diabetes, click here.
For pediatric doctors who see patients with diabetes, click here.

Subspecialties

Thryoid:
Dr. Lee Parks focuses on all aspects of thyroid disease, including thyroid dysfunction, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. A team approach is available as needed, with close collaboration with other specialists skilled in the care of thyroid disease, including surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. This is particularly helpful in the area of thyroid cancer, with access to clinical trials and new therapeutic options for advanced cases.

Bone:
Dr. Kathryn Dahir specializes in osteoporosis and other metabolic bone disorders. This includes metabolic bone disease caused by menopause, inflammatory bowel disease, steroid use, cancer treatments, cystic fibrosis, and bone disease in transplant patients. She also sees disorders of calcium metabolism including hyperparathyroidism, Vitamin D deficiency, and rickets as well as genetic disorders including Pagets Disease, osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, hypophosphatasia, and fibrous dysplasia.

Pituitary:
Dr. Vipul Lakhani provides care for patients with pituitary disease. A team approach with experienced surgeons, nurse practitioners and nursing support is utilized to care for the patient. We perform standard and dynamic testing in the evaluation of pituitary disease. Among the many illnesses we are experience in treating are pituitary tumors, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, adrenal insufficiency, growth hormone deficiency and elevated prolactin. Additionally, Dr. Lakhani provides care for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (1 and 2), adrenal tumors and thyroid tumors.

Metabolic Syndrome Clinic:
Dr. Shichun Bao, a general endocrinologist, sees patients with diabetes, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and other endocrine diseases. She has a special interest in diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin such as insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, that appear to directly promote the development of Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We screen patients who have any metabolic risk factor for other risk factors. Patients will receive counseling for lifestyle modification including diet and exercise. We will also optimize their medications. We closely follow glucose readings in diabetic patients, on a weekly basis if needed, so that the patient's glucose gets under control as quickly as possible. Prevention and early control of the disease and its complications are Dr. Bao's treatment goals.

Adolescent Diabetes Clinic:
Dr. Amy Potter sees patients with all types of diabetes and general endocrinology issues. Her particular interest is the follow up of young adults who have congenital and childhood onset diabetes and endocrine disorders. She also has an interest in genetic disorders such as Turner syndrome.

Gestational Diabetes Clinic:
Dr. Shubhada Jagasia provides state-of-the-art care for patients with gestational diabetes in the Eskind Diabetes Clinic. These patients need intensive blood sugar control to prevent maternal and fetal complications. They are treated with dietary or medication therapy based on their individual needs. We also follow them closely to optimize management. They are simultaneously followed by their obstetricians for appropriate monitoring of the pregnancy. In addition, Dr. Jagasia cares for patients with post-transplant diabetes, steroid-induced diabetes, Type 1 diabetes including those treated with insulin pump therapy, Type 2 diabetes, parathyroid and thyroid diseases.

Diabetes in Minority Ethnicities:
Dr. Michael Fowler's practice focuses on the care of people with diabetes and thyroid disease. He has a special interest in diabetes in minority communities in the U.S. Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Fowler is involved in research and outreach programs in Tennessee and in South America. Studying the differences in the way diabetes affects different populations helps us understand the causes of diabetes. It also helps us identify new ways to treat the disease.