Draft:Pisit Pitukcheewanont

Pisit Pitukcheewanont, also known as "Dr. Duke" is a Doctor of Medicine, a former professor of Clinical Pediatrics and, a philanthropist. Currently, he is a Adjunct Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, the President of a nonprofit organization, The Human Growth Foundation and Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at a large pharmaceutical. Dr. Pitukcheewanont is among the most prominent Pediatric Bone and Endocrine clinical investigators in the world.

Biography
Pisit Pitukcheewanont (Duke) was born in Surin, Thailand. He received his early education from Triam Udom Suksa, Bangkok, Thailand. He attended Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, and completed his doctorate thesis M.D., followed by a residency in Pediatrics at the department of pediatrics Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University, a Fellowship of Pediatric Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Siriraj Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. He moved to the United States in 1994 and completed a second Fellowship of Clinical and Research at the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN. He then completed a second residency in Pediatrics (PL-3) at University of Tennessee, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, Memphis, TN. After settling in Los Angeles CA, he went rapidly through the academic hierarchy steps from assistant professor to full professor of Clinical Pediatrics at University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, in addition to his professorship at USC, earlier he was senior investigator, Clinical Director of Pediatric Bone Program and Co-Director of Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship and Training Program Program at Keck School of Medicine. He was also a practicing pediatric endocrinologist at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles 1998-2018 and was the Executive Board of Director for Thai-Americans Physicians Foundation, 2008-2011. In 2011, he became the president of the nonprofit organization, the Human Growth Foundation, which he still holds. Dr. Pitukcheewanont is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. He is a member of Society of Pediatric Research, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, The Endocrine Society and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology among others, and is a frequently requested speaker to professional and lay audiences on pediatric endocrinology, growth and bone disorder. Late 2018, he retired from CHLA, UCS Keck School of Medicine and accepted a position as Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development and Medical at a large pharmaceutical.

Research
His clinical and research interests have been in pediatric endocrinology especially as it relates to growth and bone health and bone development, the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of childhood osteoporosis; and metabolic bone disorders in pediatric patients. He has participated in many major clinical trials related to growth and bone disorders for many years. He has over 70 publications in peer-reviewed, non-peer-reviewed, book chapter. His recent publications have been concerned with the disparities resulting from the various methods of measuring bone density and pediatric bone disorders.

Teaching
He has played a role in advancing the professional growth and careers of hundreds of aspiring physicians and researchers, a significant number of whom hold prominent positions such as professors and department heads at various Institutions and organizations in regions including Asia, Europe, the United States, and Latin America. For many years, he led educational programs for physicians as a faculty member at the University of Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles as well as the Human Growth Foundation. Additionally, he has held visiting professorship positions and delivered notable lectures in various locations around the world.

Honors
1980 "American Field Service (AFS): Scholarship to the United States",1984 "Scholarship to Fukui Medical School, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan",1985-1987 "The Leader of Institute of Foreign Medical Affairs at Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University",1992-1993 "Fellowship Grant in Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN, 1995 "The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society Travel Grant Award, 2000-2002 "Mentor Junior Faculty Academic Career Development Award, Keck School of Medicine, 2003-Present "Best Doctors In America, 2007-Present", 2007-Present "America’s Top Pediatricians", 2008 "Thai American Physicians Foundation (TAPF) Medical Research Award", 2008 "Thai-American Visiting Professor Award", 2008-Present "Southern California Super Doctors" 2008-Present "President of Human Growth Foundation" 2011 - present "Madison’s Who’s Who in Medicine", 2017-present "Member of Society of Pediatric Research (SPR) Skirball Mentorship Award"

Philanthropy
Dr. Pisit Pitukcheewanont has been a contributor and on the board of directors with the Human Growth Foundation (HGF) since 2007, 2011 he was elected as the president of the foundation and continues in that position today. The Human Growth Foundation is the oldest nonprofit organization of its kind. HGF, founded in 1965 by five families of children with growth disorders and to help children with growth disorders, adults with growth hormone deficiency, and healthcare providers to offer support and up-to-date information on newly discovered and existing disorders, diseases, and syndromes of growth abnormalities, in an effort to increase awareness and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Publications
He has a substantial record of scholarly publications, with over 70 scientific papers to his credit. He has also served as the editor of multiple books, including electronic volumes, and his research has been widely cited in the scientific community. He is considered to be one of the most well-known physician-scientists in the fields of Clinical Pediatrics, Bone, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Medicine.