“The tools of molecular biology have truly revolutionized the field.” – Mark A. Sperling, MD
I decided that I wanted to be a pediatrician while I was in medical school at the University of Melbourne, even though my teachers thought I would be a surgeon and had a slot reserved for me in the surgical program. During my pediatrics training, I chose to do an extra year in pathology, in which I found myself very attracted to biochemistry, which led me to endocrinology. Like biochemistry, I found the field of endocrinology to be very logical. But, the practical reason that I became a pediatric endocrinologist was that there wasn’t a single pediatric endocrinologist in Melbourne. My plan was to come to the United States to train in the field and to go back and start a department back in Melbourne. That never happened. I came here for two years and that was almost 40 years ago. I’m still here, learning.
The hottest topic right now is about how the tools of molecular biology are being used to solve problems that can arise in organ development. These tools have truly revolutionized the field, leading us to ask questions about the way the system is integrated. Endocrine signals are really like signals in the digital world. With computers and cell phones, two people, where ever they are in the world, can communicate with each other when one receives a specific signal. The same thing holds true for endocrinology. Each cell has to respond to a specific chemical messenger out of the 100 or so signals circulating around it. That system is becoming much more evident by the use of molecular biology. We actually have a major focus on the application of molecular biology in Pediatric Endocrinology, 3rd Edition and even more in the upcoming 4th Edition now in preparation.
We’ve divided the book up by the basic aspects of pediatric endocrinology. We have about five chapters on problems of endocrine disturbances in newborns, which we feel is important because we want neonatologists to be aware of how to handle these situations. The book, of course, is also for the specialist in pediatric endocrinology, the aspiring pediatric endocrinologist doing a fellowship, and the student. For anyone already in the field of pediatric endocrinology, it serves as a convenient update, being updated every five years or so. I’m really honored to be the editor of Pediatric Endocrinology, with which I’ve been associated for the past 20 or so years. I think the reason it’s a successful book is that the authors, in my opinion, are world leaders in the field of pediatric endocrinology.
Mark A. Sperling, MD is Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh/University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is a past president of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, (now Pediatric Endocrine Society) and participates in many pediatric and endocrinology organizations, including the American Pediatric Society, The Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, American Diabetes Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Sperling is also a member of the American Society for Clinical Research and the Association of American Physicians. He is an editor of Pediatric Endocrinology, now in its 3rd edition.
Dr. Sperling earned his medical degree at the University of Melbourne. After finishing residencies at Prince Henry’s Hospital and Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, he came to the U.S. to complete a fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He has particular research interest in pediatric endocrinology, pediatric diabetes, and diabetes in pregnancy. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, and is board certified in pediatric endocrinology by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Sperling is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.
