Erin E. Kershaw, Primary Investigator, Kershaw Lab

Erin E. Kershaw, MD

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure

Endowed Chair for Obesity Research

Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Education and Training 

Dr. Kershaw obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (1991). She obtained her Medical Doctorate from Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY, where she graduated with honors in research (1997). During her medical studies, she was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Fellowship for research at the Rockefeller University in New York where she studied the molecular genetic basis for type 2 diabetes in obese rodents (1993-1995). Dr. Kershaw completed her residency in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell Campus, New York, NY (1997-2000). She then completed her medical subspecialty fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (2000-2003). She was subsequently promoted to faculty at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School (2003-2008).  

 

Dr. Kershaw joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor of Medicine (2008-2014) and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine (2014-present) with tenure (2017-present). She has held several academic leadership and educational roles, including serving as 1) the Associate Program Director for Research for the Clinical Endocrine Fellowship Program, 2) a member of the Training and Oversight Committee for the T32 Research Training Program in Endocrinology, and 3) a member of the steering committee for the Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) at the University of Pittsburgh. She is currently the Endowed Chair for Obesity Research and the Chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 

 

Clinical Expertise 

Dr. Kershaw is board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (American Board of Internal Medicine), Obesity Medicine (American Board of Obesity Medicine), and Clinical Lipidology (American Board of Clinical Lipidology). Her clinical interests focus on disorders of “fat,” including the following core areas: 1) obesity and the metabolic syndrome, 2) lipodystrophies, lipomatoses, and other adiposopathies, and 3) dyslipidemias, particularly hypertriglyceridemias.  

 

Research Expertise 

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Kershaw runs an externally-funded translational research program focused on defining mechanisms by which “fat” contributes to normal metabolism and disease. Her research in these areas includes characterizing 1) intracellular lipid homeostasis and pathways of triacylglycerol hydrolysis (lipolysis), 2) novel adipocyte-secreted factors (i.e., adipokines, lipokines, etc.) and their relationship to metabolic disease, and 3) novel genes/loci linked to metabolic diseases. Her work has been funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the National Institutes of Health. She has also contributed to recent clinical trials related to novel therapies for severe hypertriglyceridemia and rare adipose tissue disorders.  

 

Summary 

Dr. Kershaw has expertise in clinical care, research, education, and leadership in the field of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism with specific expertise in adipose tissue biology, lipid homeostasis, and lipidology.