Roberto Pacifici, MD, Named
New Director of Emory's Endocrinology and Metabolism Division
Roberto Pacifici, MD, professor of medicine, has been appointed the
new director for the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the
Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Pacifici comes to Emory from
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where
he held joint appointments in the departments of medicine and radiology.
Born in Perugia, Italy, Dr.
Pacifici received his medical degree and internal medicine training
from the Perugia University School of Medicine in Perugia. He then moved
to the United States to complete a fellowship in endocrinology at the
Jewish Hospital of St. Louis at Washington University School of Medicine.
Following his fellowship, Dr. Pacifici joined the faculty at Washington
University where he stayed for the next 18 years. Just two months ago,
Dr. Pacifici moved south to Atlanta and Emory University to take on
a new challenge.
"I am looking forward to
my new responsibilities here at Emory," says Dr. Pacifici. "The endocrinology
program here is a strong one, made up of basic research, clinical research
and clinical care. At Emory, I will have the opportunity to work with
a major research group, young scientists and excellent clinicians. Building
on the expertise already here, I hope I can help expand the division
and help our program grow."
Dr. Pacifici specializes
in osteoporosis, estrogen deficiency and bone loss, menopause, women’s
health, metabolic bone diseases and Paget’s disease (a chronic skeletal
disorder which may result in enlarged or deformed bones in one or more
regions of the skeleton). Dr. Pacific brought three large National Institutes
of Health grants with him to Emory involving studies on the mechanism
of action of estrogen in bone and regulatory effects of estrogen on
the immune system. All of his research work is performed in laboratory
mice and tissue culture systems.
Short- and long-term goals
for Dr. Pacifici include developing a major, state-of-the-art center
for osteoporosis research and treatment at Emory. He also plans to set
up a new comprehensive educational program for patients with diabetes,
built on Emory’s already strong expertise in diabetes research and care.
The program would teach patients about the importance of diagnosis and
treatment of diabetes and about self-management of the disease. He has
plans to develop a program for diabetic children, too. Dr. Pacifici
would also like to expand Emory’s nutrition center and boost research
in the islet transplantation program. "We want to be known as an educational
resource for the community when it comes to diabetes, osteoporosis and
nutrition," Dr. Pacifici says.
"We feel Dr. Pacifici is
an excellent addition to both Emory’s Department of Medicine and Division
of Endocrinology and Metabolism," says Wayne Alexander, MD, PhD, professor
and chairman of Emory’s Department of Medicine. "His expertise in the
field and strong leadership qualities will help guide the department
and division to make great strides in our research, teaching and clinical
care missions."
Dr. Pacifici serves on the
editorial boards of several scientific journals and has published dozens
of peer-reviewed research articles. |