Building a Healthier Future: USF Diabetes and Endocrinology Center and TGH Endocrinology Institute Lead Transformative Growth in Endocrinology Care for Children and Adults
Over the past five years, the USF Diabetes and Endocrinology Center and Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Endocrinology Institute have rapidly transformed into one of Florida’s most comprehensive hubs for adult and pediatric endocrine care. What began as a small collection of services has evolved into a robust network of specialty programs, innovative care pathways, and statewide collaborations designed to support patients with complex endocrine needs across every stage of care.
Guided by multidisciplinary expertise and a commitment to evidence‑based practice, the institute now stands at the forefront of endocrine innovation — not only serving Tampa Bay but shaping the standard of care across Florida and nationally.
A Rapidly Expanding Suite of Clinical Endocrinology Programs
Established Programs
- Pituitary Program: Multidisciplinary team, monthly tumor boards, and coordinated perioperative care.
- Diabetes Program: Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient diabetes management with specialized educators and support teams.
- Thyroid & Parathyroid Program: Jointly run with USF ENT, featuring weekly tumor boards and integrated surgical and medical care.
- Thyroid Cancer & Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Program: Developed in collaboration with the TGH Cancer Institute.
- Obesity Program: Led by a board‑certified obesity medicine endocrinologist.
- Adult Osteoporosis & Adult/Pediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Programs: The only adult OI clinic in Florida, offering DXA and REMS technology onsite. The only nationally recognized pediatric OI program in Florida with multiple clinical trials.
Programs Under Development
- Comprehensive Bone Health and a statewide osteoporosis care network
- Endocrinology in Transplant
- Adrenal Disorders Program
- Endocrinology in Pregnancy
- Thyroid Nodule Clinic
- Post‑discharge follow‑up clinics to reduce readmissions and streamline transitions of care
Comprehensive Clinical Services and Education
The TGH Endocrinology Institute offers wide‑ranging diagnostic and therapeutic services including:
- An Endocrine Day Hospital
- Thyroid FNA procedures with in‑house ultrasound
- DXA and REMS bone density scanning
- Pump and diabetes device education
- Nutritional, psychological, and social‑work support
- Dynamic endocrine testing
- Group and individual teaching sessions
The institute plays a major role in education across USF — including lectures for medical residents, fellows, and PA students; community education events; pituitary case conferences; and bone health teaching programs for clinicians throughout the region.
Research
Researchers at USF are the world leaders in type 1 diabetes studies funded by the National Institutes of Health. Findings on the initiation of autoimmunity and its progression to clinical disease are now part of national standards of care. This group designed and conducted a study that has lead to the first drug FDA approved for delaying or preventing diabetes onset.
Collaboration: The Foundation of Advanced Endocrine Care
USF’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Center and the TGH Endocrinology Institute collaborate with a wide spectrum of specialties, reflecting the complex multisystem nature of endocrine diseases. Key partners include:
- Neurosurgery (pituitary and bone disorders)
- Orthopedics (osteoporosis and bone optimization)
- OB/GYN (PCOS, fertility, endocrine disorders in pregnancy)
- Rheumatology
- Transplant teams
- ENT
- TGH Cancer Institute
- Cardiology (resistant hypertension and metabolic clinics)
- Interventional Radiology & Radiology
- Genetics teams
- Multiple external experts across endocrine subspecialties
This integrated approach ensures patients experience a seamless continuum of care—often across multiple specialties and care environments.
A Florida First: The Closed‑Loop Adult Osteoporosis Program
One of the institute’s most significant achievements is the development of Florida’s first fully integrated inpatient‑to‑outpatient, closed‑loop osteoporosis care model.
Within just five years, the osteoporosis team built:
- A unique, evidence‑based fracture prevention pathway
- Continuous coverage with 24/7/365 inpatient consults for acute fractures
- Smooth transitions from hospital to outpatient clinics
- Dedicated DXA and REMS scanners
- A comprehensive bone registry and web‑based database
- Rehabilitation partnerships, home‑based exercise programs, and structured fall‑prevention strategies
- Patient and caregiver education modules
This model positions USF and Tampa General Hospital as a leader in osteoporosis care and is currently being advanced as a candidate for national Best Practice recognition.
Why This Program Matters: Addressing a Critical Care Gap
Data reveals a national disconnect between fragility fractures and osteoporosis care.
Across the United States:
- Most women who sustain a fracture do not receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
- Up to 93% do not receive a DXA scan within 12 months of a fracture.
- Over 80% receive no osteoporosis treatment within a year.
- Recurrent fractures often occur quickly, with 59% happening within 3 months of the first fracture.
Florida’s aging population intensifies this need — Hillsborough County alone sees 44 fragility fractures per day in women over 65. USF’s closed‑loop care model directly targets this gap.
Statewide Impact: The Florida Osteoporosis Network
Launched under the TGH Endocrinology Institute, the Florida Osteoporosis Network unites bone specialists across the state to enhance post‑fracture care access and ensure patients receive the follow‑up they need. Every patient admitted to Tampa General with a fracture is provided with a curated directory of providers offering osteoporosis management.
The network is rapidly expanding and aims to become Florida's first statewide integrated bone‑health referral system.
Advancing Science: The Bone Health Registry and Database
The institute has created two powerful research and care‑coordination platforms:
Bone Health Registry
A national registry supporting:
- Rare bone diseases
- Research recruitment
- Event and study tracking
- Patient‑driven data collection
Bone Health Database
A robust clinical tool featuring:
- Longitudinal patient follow‑up
- Automated reminders for bone‑health appointments
- Patient portals for online questionnaires
- Dedicated data‑analysis support
- Continuous IT maintenance and expansion
These systems strengthen both clinical care and research excellence.
Looking Ahead: Ambitious Growth and New Frontiers
USF and Tampa General continue to expand the vision with planned developments such as:
Bone‑Focused Initiatives
- Expansion of the Florida Osteoporosis Network statewide
- Advancement of the TGH Fracture Liaison Service
- Establishing a Bone Center of Excellence recognized as a Best Practice model
- AI‑driven osteoporosis initiatives
- Implementation of bone biopsy capabilities
- Broader collaboration with home‑health systems
Other Key Programs in Development
- APP‑focused endocrine fellowship
- Obesity medicine fellowship
- Enhanced inpatient endocrine services, with specialized oncology and transplant support
- Adrenal disorders program
- Endocrinology in transplant medicine
- Endocrine disorders in pregnancy
- Pituitary Center of Excellence
- Thyroid nodule clinic
As USF and Tampa General service grow, there is a corresponding need to accommodate expansion in providers, space and support staffing as top priorities to continue to meet patient demand.
A Vision for the Future
From endocrine oncology to pituitary disease, from diabetes care to statewide osteoporosis initiatives, the Endocrinology Institute at Tampa General Hospital and USF is shaping the next era of endocrine medicine.
With dedication, collaboration, and innovation at its core, the institute aims not only to care for patients today — but to transform endocrine healthcare for generations to come.