Children's Hospital Foundation names endowed chairs in pediatric diabetes

David Fields, Ph.D., and Kevin Short, Ph.D., bring their expertise to help young patients

 
OKLAHOMA CITY – Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF) is pleased to announce David Fields, Ph.D., Associate Professor at OU College of Medicine, as Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Diabetes and Kevin Short, Ph.D., Associate Professor at OU College of Medicine, as CMRI Choctaw Nation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Diabetes. Each endowed chair will receive the additional, and often critical, funding necessary to enhance their pediatric diabetes research efforts and teaching.

Fields earned his Ph.D. from Auburn University in Auburn, AL and his Master of Science from the University of Oklahoma. He studies how maternal health and infant feeding practices affect fat gain early in life. He currently leads an NIH funded study evaluating the effects of maternal obesity on breast milk composition and infant fat acquisition. 

Short earned his Ph.D. from Ball State University in Muncie, IN and his Master of Science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His work is directed at the effects of physical exercise verses inactivity on the problem. He is leading a study funded by the NIH to encourage more physical activity in Native American youth and evaluate how that affects their health.

During the last 20 years in Oklahoma, the rates of new diabetes diagnosis in adults has quadrupled with similar trends for children and adolescents. The disease is driven in large part by obesity. And, since 2003 the prevalence of overweight and obese children has risen in Oklahoma with the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Native American children. Together, Fields and Short, along with colleagues in the CMRI Metabolic Research Program, are studying the root causes of obesity and diabetes with the ultimate goal of effective prevention of these major health problems.

“We are blessed to have the expertise of Drs. Fields and Short in Oklahoma. There is no doubt the research they conduct will improve the health of our children,” said Kathy McCracken, Executive Director of CHF. “Their work has been made possible through the continued generosity of our donors. Philanthropy is crucial to our success – it supports forward-thinking researchers who strive to make new discoveries in pediatric diabetes.”

Each year, Children’s Hospital Foundation funds pediatric research, education and clinical programs that help children from every county in Oklahoma. No child is ever turned away from the programs, regardless of ability to pay. All funds raised through Children’s Hospital Foundation stay in Oklahoma so children will have access to the latest advancements in pediatric medicine without having to leave Oklahoma for their care.

 
To support Children’s Hospital Foundation, visit www.okchf.org.