Dr. Kavita Seetharaman is an endocrinologist at Newton Wellesley Hospital of Mass General Brigham. She obtained her medical degree from Kasturba Medical College and was awarded the University Gold Medal for first rank in medical school. She completed internship at University of Illinois and Internal Medicine residency training at University of Iowa. Dr. Seetharaman subsequently practiced Internal Medicine for 12 years. In the year 2013, she decided to follow her dreams of pursuing a fellowship in diabetes and endocrinology at UMass Medical Center, with a vision to bring expert diabetes care in primary care setting. Over the past eight years, Dr. Seetharaman has invested her efforts focusing on transition of care for young adults with diabetes, post-transplant diabetes care, caring for patients in the community setting and improving diabetes care in primary care setting. She was the director of young adult clinic at Joslin Diabetes Center, and the lead endocrinologist for Project ECHO @Joslin, a tele-mentoring program for primary care physicians enabling them to provide expert diabetes care for patients in medical home. She has trained numerous medical students, residents, and fellows as instructor of Harvard Medical School and assistant professor, UMass Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine.
What is your favorite Endocrine Society memory?
I was very excited to attend the Type 1 Diabetes Fellows series during my fellowship training. I attended several talks by experienced faculty during this meeting. As a fellow, it gave me an opportunity to learn further about ongoing research in treatment for type 1 diabetes, diabetes technology, understand the health care needs for young adults with T1D and how exercise influences glycemic control.
How has Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?
Endocrine Society has provided me with a learning platform to stay current with clinical practice and research.
What experience led you to the study of the endocrine system?
I was a primary care physician for about 12 years before becoming an endocrinologist. As an internist, the majority of my clinical practice involved caring for patients with diabetes. I felt gaining in depth knowledge in diabetes care would allow me to provide timely and expert care for patients with diabetes. In addition, I envisioned bringing advanced diabetes care to primary care settings, through a medical home model. In the year 2013, after 12 years of clinical practice as a primary care physician, I decided to pursue a fellowship in endocrinology at UMass Medical Center.
What is the best thing about what you are working on right now?
I enjoy my clinical practice and seeing patients in clinic. I also enjoy sharing and learning medical knowledge with my colleagues in primary care through lunch and learn lecture series and e-consults.
If Endocrine Society could add one benefit, what would it be?
Endocrine Society could consider launching virtual clinical case discussions, where colleagues can share and learn from each other. This could be conducted once a month.