A photo of Deborah Elder.

Director of Endocrinology, Pancreas Care Center

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

513-636-4744

513-803-1174

Board Certified

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"I approach each child as if they were my own. I often ask myself, 'If this were my child, what would I want from my provider and the management plan?'"

My Biography & Research

Biography

During medical school, I was influenced by mentors and positive role models to enter the pediatrics field. As a pediatric endocrinologist and diabetes specialist, I approach each child as if they were my own. I often ask myself, “If this were my child, what would I want from my provider and the management plan?”

In my practice, I'm a strong patient advocate. I’m the lead endocrinologist within the Division of Pulmonology and Director of Endocrinology within the Pancreas Care Canter. I provide care for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis and those with acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis.

TPIAT, or total pancreatectomy with islet auto transplantation, is surgery for severe, debilitating pain from acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. We’ve created and utilized a TPIAT clinical registry to maintain better communication and management with our patients who have undergone this procedure.

I am studying beta-cell function in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis and those who are being evaluated for a TPIAT procedure.

In my spare time, I enjoy trying new recipes, gardening and spending time outdoors.

Clinical Interests

Type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; cystic-fibrosis-related diabetes; assessment of beta-cell function in the evaluation of total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPAIT) in children with chronic pancreatitis; growth disorders; precocious puberty; pancreatic center member; cystic fibrosis and endocrine combined clinic; lung transplantation center member.

Research Interests

Beta-cell function and glucose tolerance in a variety of different diabetes conditions.

Academic Affiliation

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Divisions

Endocrinology, Pulmonary Medicine, Diabetes, Pancreas Care, Cystic Fibrosis Center

Research Divisions

Endocrinology

My Locations

My Education

BS: Michigan State University, 1991.

MD: University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, 1995.

Residency: Indiana University Riley Hospital For Children, Indianapolis, IN, 1998.

Fellowship: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 2001.

Certification: Pediatric endocrinology.

My Publications

Inaccurate Glucose Sensor Values After Hydroxyurea Administration. Tellez, SE; Hornung, LN; Courter, JD; Abu-El-Haija, M; Nathan, JD; Lawson, SA; Elder, DA. Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics. 2021; 23:443-451.

Improved Glycemic Outcomes with Early Initiation of Insulin Pump Therapy in Pediatric Postoperative Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation. Tellez, SE; Hornung, LN; Courter, JD; Abu-El-Haija, M; Nathan, JD; Lawson, SA; Elder, DA. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021; 10.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit Following Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation in Children: Establishing Accuracy of the Dexcom G6 Model. Segev, N; Hornung, LN; Tellez, SE; Courter, JD; Lawson, SA; Nathan, JD; Abu-El-Haija, M; Elder, DA. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021; 10.

Imaging prediction of islet yield and post-operative insulin requirement in children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation. Trout, AT; Nolan, HR; Abu-El-Haija, M; Fei, L; Lin, TK; Elder, DA; Nathan, JD. Pancreatology. 2021; 21:269-274.

903-P: Hydroxyurea Resulting in False Elevation of Continuous Glucose Sensor Values. TELLEZ, SE; HORNUNG, L; COURTER, JD; ABU-EL-HAIJA, M; NATHAN, JD; LAWSON, S; ELDER, DA. Diabetes. 2020; 69:903-p.

115-OR: Early Insulin Pump Use in Pediatric Post–Total Pancreatectomy Islet Auto Transplantation Management. TELLEZ, SE; HORNUNG, L; COURTER, JD; ABU-EL-HAIJA, M; NATHAN, JD; LAWSON, S; ELDER, DA. Diabetes. 2020; 69:115-or.

Islet cell transplantation in children. Balamurugan, AN; Elder, DA; Abu-El-Haija, M; Nathan, JD. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery. 2020; 29.

Imaging prediction of islet yield and function in children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation. Nathan, J; Nolan, H; Fei, L; Lin, T; Elder, D; Abu-El-Haija, M; Trout, A. Pancreatology. 2019; 19.

In-hospital and 90-day outcomes after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for pediatric chronic and acute recurrent pancreatitis. Kotagal, M; Slusher, J; Ahmad, S; Aronson, LA; Brunner, J; Chima, R; Elder, DA; Goldschneider, KR; Hornung, L; Lin, TK; et al. American Journal of Transplantation. 2019; 19:1187-1194.

Prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in pediatric acute, acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. Abu-El-Haija, M; Hornung, L; Denson, LA; Husami, A; Lin, TK; Matlock, K; Nathan, JD; Palermo, JJ; Thompson, T; Valencia, CA; et al. PLoS ONE. 2018; 13.