Agarwal recognized for review work by Endocrinology

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Professor of Internal Medicine, has been selected as a 2015 Best Reviewer for the journal Endocrinology, published by the Endocrine Society. The recognition was based on the consistently high quality of his reviews.

Dr. Agarwal, a member of the UT Southwestern faculty since 1994, earned his Ph.D. at Central Drug Research Institute in India and did postdoctoral work at both Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

The focus of his research has been multidisciplinary, including studying mechanisms of steroid action on target tissues and steroid metabolism. More recently, he has been investigating rare disorders of adipose tissue from the perspective of molecular genetics, biology and physiology.

“My work is in integrative research that involves biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. That broad knowledge is the reason the review process goes well,” Dr. Agarwal said.

Greil leading Pediatric Cardiology at Children’s Health

Children’s Health System in Dallas has named Dr. Gerald Greil as Chief of the Division of Cardiology within the Department of Pediatrics.

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Greil is a Professor of Pediatrics, Radiology, and Advanced Imaging Research. He holds the Pogue Family Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Cardiology.

Dr. Greil, who has studied medicine in Germany, England, Boston, San Francisco, and Sweden, earned a degree in pediatrics, pediatric intensive care, neonatology, and pediatric cardiology in Tuebingen, Germany, and did a senior fellowship in pediatric cardiac MRI at Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Hobbs receives
Gill Heart Award

Dr. Helen Hobbs, Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, has been awarded the 2016 Gill Heart Award from the University of Kentucky Gill Heart Institute, in recognition of her work in genetics and lipid metabolism and associated effects on the heart.

Dr. Hobbs’ work at UT Southwestern with Dr. Jonathan Cohen on mutations to the PCSK9 gene is widely recognized as the foundation for a new class of stunningly effective drugs for lowering blood cholesterol levels. She will speak about her work at the Gill Heart Institute Cardiovascular Research Day in November.

Dr. Hobbs shares the Gill Award with Dr. Barry Coller of Rockefeller University. Their work has “changed the standard of cardiovascular clinical care, said Dr. Susan Smyth, Director of the Gill Heart Institute. “I can think of no two scientists better suited to the honor.”

Dr. Hobbs holds the Eugene McDermott Distinguished Chair for the Study of Human Growth and Development, the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Chair in Developmental Biology, and the 1995 Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Cardiology Research.

Peters leading affiliated Pediatric Urology Division

Children’s Health System in Dallas has named Dr. Craig Peters as Chief of the Division of Urology within the Department of Pediatrics. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Peters is a Professor of Urology.

He earned his medical degree and urology residency from Johns Hopkins University and completed pediatric urology and surgical fellowships at Boston Children's Hospital through Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Peters previously has been on the faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and Washington, D.C.-based George Washington University.

Dr. Peters is the pediatric editor of the Campbell-Walsh Textbook of Urology and is currently serving on the board of the American Urological Association.

Leavey serving within national society leadership

Dr. Patrick Leavey, Professor of Pediatrics, has been elected Vice President of The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) for 2016-2018 and President for 2018-2020.

Dr. Leavey is the Associate Medical Director for Clinical Affairs for the Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and Director of the musculoskeletal tumors program at Children’s Health. Additionally, Dr. Leavey is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology board of trustees, as well as the secretary-treasurer of the Council of Pediatric Subspecialties. Dr. Leavey joined the pediatric faculty at UT Southwestern in 1998.

ASPHO is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated solely to the professional development and interest of subspecialists in pediatric hematology/oncology. Past Presidents include important luminaries in the field, including UT Southwestern’s Dr. George Buchanan (1999-2002), Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, holder of the Children's Cancer Fund Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Oncology & Hematology.

Dr. Leavey is a highly regarded clinical investigator in pediatric cancer with an emphasis on childhood sarcoma. He is the study chair for the current Children’s Oncology Group study for patients with newly diagnosed non-metastatic Ewing Sarcoma; the principal investigator for a multisite CPRIT-funded study harnessing computational image analysis tools to develop a prognostic biomarker in osteosarcoma; and the study chair for a Texas-wide childhood sarcoma bio-specimen study funded through a multi-institutional CPRIT award.