Growth Hormone Deficiency Across the Lifespan
Drs. Rose Girgis and Shereen Ezzat respond to questions from physicians about growth hormone deficiency across the lifespan, from pediatric care, to transition, and adult growth hormone deficiency.
1. Transition patients while recognizing risk factors for assessing adults for GH deficiency, (including congenital disorders, pituitary tumors, radiation, and traumatic brain injury).
2. Describe the clinical approach to diagnosing AGHD and initiation of available treatment (e.g. once-daily and once-weekly).
3. Compare potential benefits and adverse effects of on- and off-label growth hormone therapy in AGHD, (as well as long-term monitoring and follow-up).
Biography:
Dr. Ezzat obtained his medical degree from the University of Manitoba, completed his residency training at the University of British Columbia, and did post-doctoral research training in molecular oncology at UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles.
A specialist clinician with more than 30 years of focus on Endocrine Oncology. This field of medicine serves patients with tumors of the entire hormone producing systems including thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, and adrenal glands. He teaches a number of courses, including physiology, biochemistry, and developmental biology of neuroendocrinology. He has published more than 300 original articles and has contributed more than 50 book chapters and reviews in the field of Endocrine Oncology. He has given over 200 invited lectures to national and international scientific audiences and has received many awards from national and international scientific and other organizations, including the 2023 CSEM Jacques Genest Plenary Lecture, the 2014 Maureen Coleman Award of the Carcinoid Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (2014), the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Society of Endocrinology & Metabolism (2012), an Endocrine Society Outstanding Abstract Award (2012), the Royal College of Physicians/CSCI Distinguished Scientist Award (2008), the Endocrine Society Abbott Research Mentor Award (2006), the Novartis Senior Investigator Award of the Clinical Research Society (2006) and the Gentle Giant Award of the Pituitary Network Association (2006).
Dr. Ezzat has served as an Editorial Board member for a number of journals including Endocrinology, Cancers, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, American Journal of Physiology, Journal of Endocrinology, Endocrine Practice, and BMJ-Endocrine. He is a regular reviewer for the New England Journal of Medicine and the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Ezzat belongs to a number of professional societies, including the Endocrine Society, the American College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.
Conflicts of Interest:
Membership on advisory boards or speakers’ bureaus – Novartis, Pfizer, Ipsen, Recordati, Merck (Ad board member and speaker)
Biography:
Dr. Rose Girgis is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. She received her medical degree, MBBCH, at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. She completed a Master of Sciences in Biochemical Genetics in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta where she has also done her residency training in general Pediatrics and Endocrinology. She completed a research fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes at the University of Alberta and a clinical fellowship year at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas in 1998.
She joined the Stollery Children’s Hospital as a staff Endocrinologist in 1998. She served as the Pediatric Endocrinology Residency Program Director (2003 – 2012) and Divisional Director of Pediatric Endocrinology (2011 – 2023). Dr Girgis is currently the Associate Chair of Education, department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta. She has been the President of Pediatric Endocrinology Group (CPEG) 2023-2025.
Her clinical service includes General Endocrinology, Thyroid cancer clinics, Longterm survivor Neuro oncology/Endocrine clinics and Diabetes clinics.
Her research interest is in Growth hormone Clinical trials.
Conflicts of Interest:
Member of advisory board – Novo Nordisk
Clinical trials – local principal investigator for Novo Nordisk Real4 clinical trials
Biography:
Robert completed his medical degree, Internal Medicine and Endocrinology residencies and Masters degree at the University of Toronto. He has been Endocrinologist at Trillium Health Partners since 2015. He is an Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology, University of Toronto where he is actively involved in medical education. He is the course director for the Concepts, Patients, and Communities 1 Course (CPC-1) in the Foundations Program at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Faculty Development Lead at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM); and is actively involved in small and large group medical student teaching at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and faculty development in CBL. Robert is a member of the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) Continuing Professional Development Committee and sits on CSEM Council.
Conflicts of Interest:
Direct financial payments including receipt of honoraria – Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM)
Novo Nordisk
