Division of Diabetes & Endocrinology

With a program ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top in the nation year after year, the Division of Diabetes & Endocrinology provides specialty care for patients experiencing endocrine disorders. We stay at the forefront of rapidly-changing developments regarding diabetes treatments and technologies, and we maintain up-to-date office compatibility with FDA-approved insulin pump devices, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, and glucometers. Our physicians’ dedication to applying specialized knowledge to care for patients has contributed to Scripps Health’s national recognition as a leader in effectively controlling patients with diabetes. Our staff includes over a dozen endocrinologists serving at outpatient clinics as well as in the hospital setting. We also work with the Center for Weight Management to provide cross-disciplinary medical care with an exclusive focus on treating obese, overweight and underweight patients.

Amy Chang, MD (Division Head, Division of Diabetes & Endocrinology)
          Amy Chang, MD (Section Head, Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinics)
          Michael Lee, MD (Section Head, Weight Management Clinics)

Areas of particular interest and expertise are noted below:

DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY CLINICS

Amy Chang, MD (Division Head, Section Head)

James McCallum, MD 
Aakif Ahmad, DO
Marita Carrillo, MD
Matthew Levine, MD
Patricia Lorenzo, MD
Christopher Marx, MD
Megan McGarvey, MD
Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD
Lilian Uribe-Bruce, MD
Lauren Vincent, MD

Our Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinics practice locations are noted below:

Scripps Clinic La Jolla – Anderson Medical Pavilion

Aakif Ahmad, DO
Marita Carrillo, MD
Amy S. Chang, MD
Matthew Levine, MD
Patricia Lorenzo, MD
James McCallum, MD
Christopher Marx, MD
Megan McGarvey, MD
Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD
Lilian Uribe-Bruce, MD
Lauren Vincent, MD

Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley

Aakif Ahmad, DO
Matthew Levine, MD

Scripps Clinic Cedar – Vista

Lilian Uribe-Bruce, MD

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CLINICS

Michael Lee, MD (Section Head)
Ken Fujioka, MD
Samantha Harris, MD
Jennie Luna, MD
Raymond Plodkowski, MD

Advanced Practice Clinician:
Lori Poceta, NP

Our Weight Management Clinics practice locations are noted below:

Scripps Clinic Del Mar

Samantha Harris, MD
Michael Lee, MD
Raymond Plodkowski, MD
Lori Poceta, NP

Scripps Clinic Hillcrest

Jennie Luna, MD

Featured Services

  • Diabetes management: Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes and other forms (LADA, MODY)

  • Comprehensive Diabetes Education and Support

  • Advanced diabetes technology and devices, including insulin pumps and CGM systems

  • Osteoporosis

  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome

  • Sex hormone disorders

  • Adrenal gland disorders

  • Pituitary gland disorders

  • Specialized thyroid procedures & advanced thyroid cancer care

  • Fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules

  • RAI therapy for thyroid conditions

Recognitions & Awards

  • The Scripps Diabetes & Endocrinology program has been ranked #1 in the San Diego region for the past 5 years in a row.

  • The Scripps Diabetes & Endocrinology program is one of the top-ranked in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report

All Scripps Clinic endocrinologists serve as physician mentors and supervising faculty to fellows-in-training in the Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship Program, which is one of the many Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at Scripps Clinic & Scripps Green Hospital, as well as to rotating residents from the Internal Medicine residency program and visiting medical students. Fellows-in-training are physicians Board Certified in Internal Medicine and work under close supervision by Scripps Clinic endocrinologists during their 2-year training period. As with any teaching institution, the care patients receive by fellows-in-training is closely supervised by assigned faculty.

For more information or to apply, please visit the Graduate Medical Education page.

Greenway FL, Aronne LJ, Raben A, Astrup A, Apovian CM, Hill JO, Kaplan LM, Fujioka K, Matejkova E, Svacina S, Luzi L, Gnessi L, Navas-Carretero S, Alfredo Martinez J, Still CD, Sannino A, Saponaro C, Demitri C, Urban LE, Leider H, Chiquette E, Ron ES, Zohar Y, Heshmati HM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Gelesis100: A Novel Nonsystemic Oral Hydrogel for Weight Loss. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019 Feb;27(2):205-216.: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019 Apr;27(4):679 

Rodriguez Martinez R, Chang A. Triple Thyroid Carcinoma: What are the clinical

implications? Poster #703. ENDO Society Annual Meeting 2018.

Clarine L, Chang A, Alegre-Border E, Fortmann A, Philis-Tsimikas A, Morrisey R, Clark T.

Comparison of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Using Different Glycemic Targets during

Pregnancy. Poster #1475. ADA 77th Scientific Sessions 2017.

Clarine L, Rodriguez Martinez R, Levine M, McGarvey M, Chang A. 22 Month Review of

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Endocrine Disorders at a Southern California

Teaching Hospital. Abstract #716. AACE Annual Meeting 2017. PMID 28535141.

Kahan S, Fujioka K. Obesity Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Spectr. 2017 Nov;30(4):250-257. doi: 10.2337/ds17-0044   

Huribal HM, Clarine LH, Levine M.  Five Year Experience with Afirma Gene Expression Classifier (GEC) at a Southern California Teaching Hospital. Poster #238.  ATA Annual Meeting 2016. Trainee Poster Finalist & Winner.

Levine M. “Empagliflozin Phase 3 Data Overview.”  Current Diabetes Reviews 2016; volume 12, issue 4.  PubMed#27296042

Fujioka K, O’Neil PM, Davies M, Greenway F, C W Lau D, Claudius B, Skjøth TV, Bjørn Jensen C, P H Wilding J Early Weight Loss with Liraglutide 3.0 mg Predicts 1-Year Weight Loss and is Associated with Improvements in Clinical Markers. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 

Clarine L, Chang A. Too Much of a Good Thing – A Rare Case of Licorice Toxicity Caused

by Common Herbal Tea. Abstract #107. AACE Annual Meeting 2016.

Safety and tolerability of medications approved for chronic weight management. Fujioka K. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Apr;23 Suppl 1:S7-11. doi: 10.1002/oby.21094    

Current and emerging medications for overweight or obesity in people with comorbidities. Fujioka K. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2015 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/dom.12502. [Epub ahead of print]

Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., Arne Astrup, M.D., D.M.Sc., Ken Fujioka, M.D et. al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management N Engl J Med 2015;373:11-22.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892

Lee MW, Fujioka K. Dietary prescriptions for the overweight patient: the potential benefits of low-carbohydrate diets in insulin resistance. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2011 Mar;13(3):204-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2010.01328   

Greenway FL, Fujioka K, Plodkowski RA, Mudaliar S, Guttadauria M, Erickson J, Kim DD, Dunayevich E; COR-I Study Group. Effect of naltrexone plus bupropion on weight loss in overweight and obese adults (COR-I): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.Lancet. 2010;376(9741):595-605. Epub 2010 Jul 29. Erratum in: Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):594. Lancet. 2010 Oct 23;376(9750):1392 

Lee MW, Fujioka K. Naltrexone for the treatment of obesity: review and update. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Aug;10(11):1841-5

Aronne L, Fujioka K, Aroda V, Chen K, Halseth A, Kesty NC, Burns C, Lush CW, Weyer C. Progressive reduction in body weight after treatment with the amylin analog pramlintide in obese subjects: a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Aug;92(8):2977-83 

The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and insulin resistance: Relationship to metabolic syndrome K Fujioka, F Greenway, J Sheard. J of Med  Food 2006:9(1):49-54

Erondu N, Gantz I, Musser B, Suryawanishi S, Mallick M Addy C, Cote J, Bray G, Fujioka K, et al. Neuropeptide Y5 receptor antagonism does not induce clinically meaningful weight loss in overweight or obese adults. Cell Metab. 2006 Oct. 4(4):275-282. PMID 1711500

Glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes Mellitus switched from twice-daily immediate-release metformin to a Once-daily Extended-release formulation. K Fujioka, M Pans, S Joyal Clinical Therapeutics. Vol. 25, No.2 pp 515-529: 2003

Bupropion SR significantly enhances weight loss when used with a Moderately-intensity lifestyle intervention.  Anderson JW, Greenway F, Fujioka K, Gadde K, McKenny J, O’Neil P. Obesity Research 2002.Vol 10#7:633-41

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