The Department of Pediatrics is thrilled to announce the appointment of Professor Kristen Nadeau, MD, MS, as the new Section Head of Endocrinology. Nadeau has been chosen for this esteemed leadership role from a competitive pool of highly qualified candidates and will officially begin her duties on July 1, 2025. She will also continue her position as the Department of Pediatrics Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research.
Nadeau obtained her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and went on to complete her pediatric residency at Oregon Health Sciences University. She began her notable career in the Department of Pediatrics and at Children’s Hospital Colorado in 2001 when she started her endocrinology fellowship, finishing in 2005. Following her fellowship, she became an instructor in the Department of Pediatrics, achieving the rank of full professor in 2018. Additionally, in 2009, she obtained a master’s degree in clinical sciences from the University of Colorado.
With nearly 23 years of expertise in pediatric endocrinology, type 1 and 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and bariatric surgery, Nadeau possesses extensive knowledge in program development alongside strong clinical expertise. She is committed to program enhancement and has augmented her leadership and management abilities through initiatives such as the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM). Her strengths include team building, promoting collaboration and improving communication across various programs. Her outstanding interpersonal skills make her a trusted advisor to faculty, and she is deeply dedicated to mentoring, ensuring alignment between the section's goals and those of the department and hospital.
Nadeau has an impressive research portfolio, consistently securing funding from various external sponsors including the National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Her career has focused on clinical and translational research, especially in the treatment and prevention of youth-onset obesity and diabetes complications in underserved communities. Nadeau has published 335 manuscripts and received numerous national honors. In 2021, she was elected as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, received the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Investigator Award, and was honored with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Association’s Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine, MD Excellence in Clinical Research Award.
Her previous leadership roles include serving as chair of the NIH Human Studies in Diabetes and Obesity (HSDO) Study Section, research director for Pediatric Endocrinology and Bariatric Surgery, co-director of the University of Colorado’s NIH Diabetes Research Center Clinical Investigations Core, pediatric co-chair of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) Scientific Advisory and Review Committee (SARC), director of the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Mentored Scholarly Activity (MSA) longitudinal research program and appointment to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Native American Child Health.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Philip Zeitler, MD, PhD, for his exemplary 13 years of leadership as the section head of endocrinology. We are fortunate to have benefited from his vision, expertise and mentorship and we look forward to his continued contributions in his new endeavors. Thank you, Dr. Zeitler, for your outstanding service and impact on our community.
With enthusiasm for this new chapter under Nadeau's leadership, we are certain she will further elevate our department and push the boundaries of pediatric endocrinology, all while maintaining outstanding standards in patient care, research and academic excellence.