Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Pouneh K Fazeli, MD, MPH

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Director, Neuroendocrinology Unit

Medical Director, Pituitary Center of Excellence

Associate Professor of Medicine

Email: pkfazeli@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-586-9700
Contact
Office: W1061 Biomedical Science Tower
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-586-9700
Fax: 412-586-9726
E-mail: pkfazeli@pitt.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Emily Welsh
Address: W1054 Biomedical Science Tower
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: ejw74@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-648-9770
Fax: 412-648-3290
Education and Training
Education
AB, Harvard University, 1998
MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2002
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 2012
Training
Internship/Residency, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, 2005
Chief Residency, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, 2006
Endocrinology Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital, 2010
Research Interest
Dr. Fazeli is a clinical/translational researcher with a primary interest in understanding both the benefits and negative consequences of undernutrition. Her research program has focused primarily on studying women with anorexia nervosa and the hormonal adaptations that lead to profound bone loss in this population. She has performed clinical studies investigating therapies for the treatment of bone loss in women with anorexia nervosa and is currently investigating the effects of transdermal estrogen through an NIH-funded protocol. Dr. Fazeli’s research has also focused on understanding the pathophysiology of bone loss in chronic undernutrition and the potential role and function of bone marrow adipose tissue, a fat depot which is paradoxically increased in states of starvation. Dr. Fazeli has a clinical interest in understanding the hormonal determinants of amenorrhea and infertility and has used large database methods to answer clinically relevant questions in this field.
Clinical Interest
Dr. Fazeli's areas of interest include: 1) Pituitary disorders, 2) Hyperprolactinemia, 3) Acromegaly, 4) Cushing's, 5) Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea/infertility
Educational Interest
Dr. Fazeli has mentored students, residents and fellows interested in neuroendocrinology/endocrinology. She previously served as an Associate Program Director for the Endocrine Division Fellowship Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital and also served as a Director for the Reintroduction to Clinical Medicine course for MD/PhD students at Harvard Medical School.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Sebo, Z. L., Rendina-Ruedy, E., Ables, G. P., Lindskog, D. M., Rodeheffer, M. S., Fazeli, P. K., Horowitz, M. C. Bone marrow adiposity: basic and clinical implications. Endocr Rev. 2019; 40(5): 1187-1206.
Fazeli, P. K., Klibanski, A. The paradox of marrow adipose tissue in anorexia nervosa. Bone. 2019; 118: 47-52.
Steinhauser, M. L., Olenchock, B. A., O'Keefe, J., Lun, M., Pierce, K. A., Lee, H., Pantano, L., Klibanski, A., Shulman, G. I., Clish, C. B., Fazeli, P. K. The circulating metabolome of human starvation. JCI Insight. 2018; 3(16): pii.121434.
Orouji Jokar, T., Fourman, L. T., Lee, H., Mentzinger, K., Fazeli, P. K. Higher TSH levels within the normal range are associated with unexplained infertility. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(2): 632-639.
Fazeli, P. K., Faje, A. T., Bredella, M. A., Polineni, S., Russell, S., Resulaj, M., Rosen, C. J., Klibanski, A. Changes in marrow adipose tissue with short-term changes in weight in premenopausal women with anorexia nervosa. Eur J Endocrinol. 2018; pii.EJE-18-0824.R1.
Fazeli, P. K., Klibanski, A. Effects of anorexia nervosa on bone metabolism. Endocr Rev. 2018; 39(6): 895-910.
Fourman, L., Fazeli, P. K. Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea – An update. J Clin Encodrinol Metab. 2015; 100(3): 812-824.
Fazeli, P. K., Lun, M., Kim, S. M., Bredella, M. A., Wright, S., Zhang, Y., Lee, H., Catana, C., Klibanski, A., Patwari, P., Steinhauser, M. L. FGF21 and the late adaptive response to starvation in humans. J Clin Invest. 2015; 125(12): 4601-4611.
Notable Achievements
Frederick DeRubertis Golden Apple Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh, 2020
Gilbert H. Daniels Award for Excellence in Teaching, Massachusetts General Hospital, 2019
Lawrence G. Raisz Endocrine Scholars Lecturer, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 2019
Janet W. McArthur Award for Excellence in Clinical Research, Women in Endocrinology, 2009
Young Investigator Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2009
Lillie M. Erk Prize, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2002
Dr. Morris Ginsburg Prize, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2002

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
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