Division Director

Abbas E. Kitabchi, PhD, MD

Abbas E. Kitabchi, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E. is Professor of Medicine and Molecular Sciences, and the Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes andMetabolism at the University of Tennessee HealthScience Center (UTHSC), the position he has held since 1973. He served as the Program Director of the General Clinical Research Center at UTHSC from 1973-1992, and as Director of Research and Education of Memphis Veterans Administration Hospital from 1968-1973.

Dr. Kitabchi received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Medical Sciences and M.D. all from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, where he also received his housestaff training. He received his fellowship training as an NIH postdoctoral fellow in Endocrinology with the late Dr. Robert H. Williams at University of Washington, Seattle, Washington from 1966-1968.

Dr. Kitabchi has been principal investigator of three multi-center NIH sponsored clinical trials dealing with treatment of type 1 diabetes (DCCT), prevention of type 2 diabetes (DPP) and reduction of CV risk in type 2 diabetes (Look AHEAD), as well as prevention of diabetes by pharmaceutical agent (ACT NOW). He has authored and coauthored more than 200 peer reviewed publications, review articles and book chapters. His pioneer work on treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) provided the basis for the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Position Statement for management of DKA.

Dr. Kitabchi has been on the editorial boards of numerous endocrine and metabolic journals and member of professional societies, including ADA, The Endocrine Society, American College of Physicians, American College of Endocrinology, Association of American Physicians and American Society for Clinical Investigation. He has served at the national and state levels for ADA and has been president of the Tennessee Diabetes Association and member of its board at the local and state level, as well as a member of Diabetes Research Grant Review Panel and Program Committee of the ADA at the national level. He was voted as one of the Best Doctors in America. He is presently on the editorial boards of Diabetes Care, Metabolism, International Journal of Osteoporosis and Metabolism, and Iranian Journal of Diabetes and Lipid Disorders.

Chief's Message

We in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Tennessee, College of Medicine are pleased to welcome you to our website. We are proud of our faculty's accomplishments in education, research, patient care and community service. The depth and breath of our faculty's clinical and basic sciences investigations span from molecular genetics to clinical investigation with emphasis in the areas of diabetes, obesity and endocrine diseases. The Division has maintained 3 major NIH trials since 1980 in the areas related to pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition, the Division has on-going state-of-the-art investigation in the basic science arena and maintains highly sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment in these laboratories. The total annual grant funding of our Divisional faculty exceeds $2 million per year. The clinical faculty of our Division provides comprehensive patient care in all aspects of diabetes, as well as endocrine and metabolic disorders.

The Division is active in educational programs of the College of Medicine in both basic and clinical science arenas, including pathophysiology course in the 2nd year of medical training, as well as lecturing and training clinical trainees and providing supervision in inpatient and outpatient settings for medical students, residents and clinical fellows.

Our faculty members are active at the community levels by providing consultation and teaching at various local colleges and actively participate in the leadership program of the regional Chapter of American Diabetes Association and other state and county health programs.

Our Division has trained more than 70 clinical and research fellows in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. In the last 5 years, all of our clinical trainees (10) have been certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialty of Endocrinology.

Abbas Kitabchi, Ph.D. , M.D.
Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism