Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes + Metabolism

The Division has a distinguished history dating to the 1940s when Dr. Edwin B. Astwood became the first Chief of the Division.  During his tenure, numerous advances were made, including the introduction of anti-thyroid drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, the use of thyroid hormone therapy for the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, the isolation and preparation of ACTH for clinical use (means what), and the purification of human growth hormone, allowing the first breakthrough treatment for pituitary dwarfism.

In 1972, Dr. Seymour Reichlin, a world-renowned leader in the field of Neuroendocrinology and disorders of the thyroid gland, became Chief of the Division.  Included in the many outstanding achievements during his tenure was the development of the first radioimmunoassay for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), elucidation of the sequences of pre-prosomatostatin and pre-prothyrotropin-releasing hormone, identification of the origin of the hypothalamic tubero-infundibular system, studies on the mechanisms of somatostatin and prolactin secretion, demonstration of the importance of the immune system in neuroendocrine regulation, as well as important human studies on the evaluation and treatment of hyperprolactinemia and early diagnosis and treatment of patients with MEN II syndrome.  With the construction of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging on the downtown campus of Tufts University (next to Tufts Medical Center), the Endocrinology Division was strengthened further in the areas of lipid metabolism, calcium metabolism and obesity.   

In 1990, Dr. A.E. Boyd, III, who trained under Dr. Reichlin, was recruited to become Chief of the Division and brought expertise in diabetes and molecular biology. What followed was a period of rapid growth for the Division, as Dr. Boyd merged the Division of Molecular Medicine with the Division of Endocrinology to create the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine at Tufts Medical Center. The Division moved to a newly renovated 15,000 sq. ft research facility adjacent to the hospital to accommodate the increased faculty size and requirements for more research space. Dr. Boyd led the division until his passing in 1995.

 

Since Dr. Boyd's untimely passing in 1995, Dr. Ronald M. Lechan, a faculty member since 1981 and a Reichlin trainee, became Chief of the Division. During Dr. Lechan’s tenure, programs in hypothalamic and pituitary disease and adrenal neoplasia were established, enabling the hospital to be designated as a Clinical Center for Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma by the Pheo-Para Alliance and providing exceptional training in a wide variety of neuroendocrine disorders. He also expanded outreach programs for community clinical care by establishing satellite centers for patients with endocrine disorders in Quincy (Tufts Medical Center at Quincy Specialty Center) and Norfolk (Tufts Medical Center at Norfolk Specialty Center). Dr. Lechan also established and nurtured the Friedman Fellowship Program in Diabetes and Metabolism, supported by the Dr. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman New York Foundation for Medical Research. This program was an extension of the Division’s mission to provide the highest standards of care to patients with endocrine disorders, to understand the basis of endocrine physiology and endocrine diseases through research, and to use this knowledge to improve the lives of patients by developing more effective and selective medical treatments for endocrine and metabolic disease. Accomplishments of “Friedman Fellows” at Tufts Medical Center were recognized in over 200 publications and by establishing satellite symposia linked to international meetings of the American Diabetes Association and American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Lechan also served as the Fellowship Program Director from 1995-2022. 
 

On December 15, 2020, Dr. Anastassios G. Pittas, a faculty member since 2000 and the inaugural "Friedman Fellow" (2000 to 2002) became Chief of the Division. He assumed the role of Fellowship Program Director at the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.