We are pleased to announce the appointment of John M. Stafford, MD, PhD, as the new Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, effective July 1.
Dr. Stafford brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to the division. He is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure at Vanderbilt University, where he also serves as the Chief of the Endocrine Section at the Tennessee Valley VA Healthcare System and the Director of the Lipid Clinic. Dr. Stafford has an impressive background in both clinical and research settings, with a focus on diabetes, obesity, and metabolism.
Dr. Stafford has an extensive list of achievements that highlight his dedication to the field of endocrinology and metabolism. In addition to his administrative roles as Section Chief of Endocrine and Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center, he has made significant contributions to medical education and biomedical research in understanding the molecular pathways by which obesity and diabetes increase the risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. He has directed several educational programs, including the Vanderbilt Medical Student Research Training Program and the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases Medical Student Research Program, which have trained over 1200 medical students from more than 100 US medical schools. Dr. Stafford has published extensively in high-impact journals and is the principal investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, including two NIH R01 awards related to studies on sex-specific risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and NIH P30 and NIH T35 awards, both supporting medical student research training. He has received several prestigious awards, such as the Oscar B. Crofford Award for Research in Endocrinology and the Early-Career Investigator Award for Excellence from the Kern Lipid Conference and has served on committees within the NIH, American Heart Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, and American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Stafford's vision for the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism is to enhance the national recognition for clinical excellence in obesity, diabetes, and endocrine care. He will develop the next leaders in the field by fostering a diverse workforce and creating a robust pipeline of talent, driving innovation through collaborative research, educational, and clinical efforts, particularly in areas such as cancer-prone diabetes subtypes, obesity, thyroid and adrenal cancer, and women's health. He will also prioritize outreach and service to the community, ensuring that our work benefits everyone. He will continue to build upon our connections with the James and Comprehensive Cancer Center and develop a Center of Excellence in Diabetes.
Dr. Stafford earned his Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University where he subsequently completed the Medical Scientist Training Program, with his PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. He also completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University as well as a clinical and research fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Stafford to our team and look forward to the transformative impact he will have on the Division, the Department of Medicine, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.