2024 YEAR IN REVIEW:
Northwestern Medicine Endocrinology​
Over the past decade, we have seen health statistics around diabetes and obesity capture widespread public attention. At Northwestern Medicine, we’re dedicated to enhancing our patients’ health through exceptional care, education and scientific breakthroughs.

Our research program, backed by over $9 million in funding, spans a broad spectrum of areas that intersect with various specialties, so we’re always at the forefront of investigating metabolism and energetics. We are proud to share our key initiatives and accomplishments from 2024 and to recognize the people who made them possible.  

In 2025, we look forward to advancing our research and clinical care to continue making strides with endocrine disease.
Joseph T. Bass, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Diabetes and Metabolism
Chief of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine
Northwestern Medicine
Charles F. Kettering Professor of Medicine
Professor of Endocrinology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Professor, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Northwestern University

RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

​Nearly 40% of Type 2 Diabetes Patients Stop Taking Their Second-Line Medication
Nearly two-thirds of patients with Type 2 diabetes either discontinued their second-line medication, switched to a different medication class or they intensified their treatment, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.
Recent Study Uncovers BCL6 Gene’s Crucial Role in Muscle Mass Maintenance
A Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Metabolism, by Grant D. Barish, MD, has uncovered a previously unexplored relationship between a gene critical to immune cells and the establishment and maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and strength in mice.
Transcription Factors Influence Insulin-Producing Beta Cells
A Northwestern Medicine study has revealed how transcription factors within individual cells influence the identity and function of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, according to findings published in Cell Metabolism. Senior and lead study authors, Joseph T. Bass, MD, PhD, and Benjamin Weidemann, explain on the Better Edge podcast. 
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The Connection Between Diabetes and Heart Disease
Endocrinologist Robert F. Kushner, MD, and Cardiologist Sanjiv J. Shah, MD, share their insights on using semaglutide to reduce cardiovascular risk, including their recent clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine, SELECT and STEP-HFpEF.
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Exploring the Elusive Genetic Causes of Rare Autoimmune Disease
A team of international scientists has uncovered the genetic underpinnings of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy, according to a study recently published in Science Translational Medicine. Jennifer L. Miller, MD, was a study co-author.
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CLINICAL UPDATES AND ADVANCES

Diabetes and Disparities in CGM in Community Healthcare Settings
In this video, Amisha Wallia, MD, MS, explores some of the common challenges people with diabetes face in accessing and using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology in community healthcare settings, including disparities in CGM usage among underserved populations.
Studying the Mental Health Impact of Weight Loss Drugs
Semaglutide is psychiatrically safe for people without a history of significant mental health disorders, according to a clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Robert F. Kushner, MD, was a co-author of the study.
The Utility of CGM in Type 2 Diabetes
In a three-part Cardiometabolic Beat podcast series, Grazia Aleppo, MD, provides valuable insights on the rationale and supporting data for the use of CGM in Type 2 diabetes. She also highlights guidelines for patient selection and implementing CGM in patient care.
Medications For Obesity: A Comprehensive Review
In this JAMA Clinical Reviews podcast, Robert F. Kushner, MD, discusses his recent review published in JAMA on medications for managing obesity, including the prescription of these drugs to improve health outcomes and reduce adverse effects in people with obesity.

NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE ENDOCRINOLOGY
​Northwestern Medicine Endocrinology is dedicated to enhancing our patients’ health through exceptional care, education and scientific breakthroughs.
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The Endocrinology Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, ranked among the nation’s top eight by U.S. News & World Report, 2024 – 2025, is a national leader in the research and clinical management of endocrine disorders. Our research program, backed by over $9 million in funding, spans a broad spectrum of areas that intersect with various specialties.
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Our clinical specialists are globally recognized for their expertise in treating cancers and diseases of the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. They also have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating diabetes, thyroid cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome and osteoporosis.

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