Acclaimed pediatric endocrinologist represents Riley Children’s Health in the 2023 American Pediatric Society

Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH, division chief of pediatric diabetology and endocrinology at Riley Children’s Health and professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, is renowned for her impeccable contributions to pediatric healthcare. That’s why she is one of a few North American pediatricians to be nominated into the 2023 American Pediatric Society (APS), an organization whose members are distinguished pediatric leaders and represent the full diversity of faculty in academic pediatrics.

The APS shapes the future of academics and advances child health and well-being through active engagement of its distinguished pediatric healthcare leaders. Founded in 1888, the APS is North America’s first and most excelled pediatric academic program, aiming to support the complete scope of child healthcare. This year, the APS admitted 95 new members nationwide, Dr. DiMeglio being one of them.

“I am honored to be recognized as a leading scholar in academic pediatric health,” Dr. DiMeglio said. She was the only new member from Indiana to be elected in 2023.

Dr. DiMeglio earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Following that, she completed her pediatric endocrine fellowship at Riley Children’s and earned her MPH from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. Her research and clinical practice focus on chronic endocrine conditions, Type 1 diabetes prevention and metabolic bone disease research. Recently, she published multiple peer-reviewed articles, including editorials on women in diabetes, food insecurity and COVID-19 amid type 1 diabetes. Further, Dr. DiMeglio has developed a series of guidelines for care for the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. As an endocrinologist, she particularly feels called to these research efforts to find ways to ameliorate the burden of Type 1 diabetes for children and their families.

“As a young child, my aunt had Type 1 diabetes, and I was curious about her condition and her care,” Dr. DiMeglio said. “My interest in diabetes grew further during my time as a pediatric resident. I was responsible for the care of many kids with onset diabetes – managing their diagnosis and talking with their families. Now our research team works to prevent the disease, preserve insulin production in people newly diagnosed with diabetes, and develop therapies and strategies to improve quality of life for patients living with the condition.”

APS members are nominated by current members and are chosen based off the nominee’s track record of pioneering efforts in academic pediatrics. Dr. DiMeglio was inducted during the APS Presidential Plenary on April 29, 2023, at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2023 Meeting.

“We are so delighted to welcome this outstanding group of pediatric scholars and healthcare leaders to our community,” APS president, Lisa Robinson, MD said. “Through active engagement with our programs and initiatives, the APS looks forward to drawing on the boundless creativity and talent of our members to address the most pressing issues facing academic pediatrics and child health.”

The pediatric diabetes and endocrinology program at Riley Children’s is accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, delivering expert care for children with diabetes and other endocrine disorders. To learn more about the leading efforts behind Dr. DiMeglio’s work and colleagues, see the annual report.