Children's endocrinology specialists in Kansas City

When your child needs a specialist, a sense of comfort and confidence in your doctor is a critical part of the healthcare experience. At HCA Midwest Health, our pediatric endocrinology experts are dedicated to helping diagnose any hormonal issues and restore balance to your child's endocrine system, helping their body function at its best.

For more information about our pediatric endocrinology services, call (913) 541-5437 (KIDS).

Comprehensive, compassionate pediatric endocrinology care

We understand the unique nature of children’s medicine and all it entails. That's why our experienced pediatric endocrinologists offer compassionate care to children in a warm and supporting environment, convenient to the Kansas City community.

Our team is led by a long-tenured, board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric endocrinologist who is experienced in providing care for a range of endocrine conditions, from growth issues to thyroid gland disorders.

Multidisciplinary pediatric care

Our Endocrinology Clinic is adjacent to Overland Park Regional Medical Center, giving patients easy access from the doctor’s office to any diagnostic and treatment resources they need. Our pediatric endocrinology team practices in the same location as our other children’s specialists. This allows our physicians to collaborate easily and provides families with a single site for their children's healthcare.

Our approach to pediatric care is multispecialty and team-oriented. For example:

  • A common issue for young endocrinology patients is a gap in care as young adults transition from pediatric care to adult care. We specialize in bridging that gap to ensure teenagers don't suffer from a lack of care when they leave their pediatricians.
  • Infants with endocrine disorders are treated in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). For newborns with health issues, we work closely with other specialists to provide prompt, cohesive care.
  • Most endocrine conditions do not require emergency care. However, when they do, we are close to Overland Park Regional Medical Center's pediatric emergency room (ER). It is Johnson County’s only ER to include a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
  • We are committed to partnering with children's pediatricians to ensure open communication, collaboration and peace of mind for patients and their families.

Pediatric endocrine conditions we treat

The endocrine system is a complex group of glands that produces hormones that control activities in the body. Different hormones control different functions, such as growth and development, fertility and metabolism.

Some of the most common endocrine conditions that affect children include:

  • Adrenal gland disorders (conditions in which adrenal glands do not produce the right balance of hormones), such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (a genetic condition that limits hormone production in the adrenal glands)
  • Delayed puberty (a condition in which a person does not experience sexual maturity at the expected time)
  • Growth disorders (conditions that prevent children from developing weight, height and/or sexual maturity)
  • Pituitary disorders (conditions in which the pituitary gland produces too much or too little hormones)
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (a disorder in which a woman's ovaries are enlarged and small cysts form on their outer edges)
  • Precocious puberty (a condition in which a child matures sexually at a young age)
  • Thyroid disorders (conditions in which the thyroid gland produces too many or too few hormones)
  • Transgender and gender identity concerns (where a child does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth)
  • Type 1 diabetes (a disease, also known as juvenile diabetes, that prohibits the pancreas from producing insulin)
  • Type 2 diabetes (a disease in which a person's body produces insulin but their cells are unable to use it properly)
  • Turner syndrome (a condition in which a girl is born with only one chromosome, which can cause growth issues and delayed puberty)

Pediatric endocrine treatments

When children and their families come to us for pediatric endocrine care, they see the same experienced and highly trained endocrinologist every time, whether in the clinic or hospital setting. This continuity ensures a level of comfort in children and parents that promotes the best outcomes.

In addition to individualized treatment programs and comprehensive lab services, some of the most common treatments we use for pediatric endocrine conditions include:

  • Adrenal venous sampling (a procedure in which blood samples are taken from both adrenal glands to compare the amount of hormone made by each one)
  • Continuous glucose monitoring systems (a compact medical system that continuously monitors blood sugar levels in more or less real time)
  • Endocrine procedures (procedures that could include gland removal surgeries to treat hormone imbalances)
  • Fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules (a procedure that involves removing a small sample of tissue from the thyroid gland for analysis or treatment)
  • Insulin pumps and insulin therapy (treatments that provide continuous delivery of short-acting insulin to improve blood sugar levels)
  • Nutrition and weight management services (support, prevention and management for weight loss, balance and portion and calorie control)
  • Pediatric diabetes program (support and management for children with types 1 and 2 diabetes)
  • Radioactive iodine treatment (a treatment for thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, involving nuclear medicine)

Advanced pediatric diabetes care

We use the latest technology, providing advanced tools to help young patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes successfully manage their conditions. However, we understand that medical care is only part of diabetes treatment. Our goal is to provide patients with an understanding of how to best manage their diabetes while staying active.

We firmly believe that whenever possible, children need to be active participants in their own care. This is especially true for young patients with diabetes. Our mission is to include children in discussions and decisions, which helps increase confidence, independence and a willingness to comply with treatment.

Much of our job is to give young patients the confidence and training needed to become experts in managing their diabetes. We strive to help children with diabetes live life and participate in activities like their peers who do not have diabetes.