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Oscar Escobar, MD

  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Oscar Escobar, MD is an Associate professor of Pediatrics at The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a member of the Pediatric Endocrinology faculty at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He completed his MD training at the Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia) and his pediatric residency training at the Hospital Universitario del Valle (Cali, Colombia). This was followed by a clinical/research Fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans and then additional training in pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he also completed a second Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship and returned to Colombia where he remained for three years working as a pediatric endocrinologist at the Centro de Endocrinología, Metabolismo y Diabetes in Cali, Colombia and as a consulting pediatric endocrinologist in two large Medical Centers in Cali (Fundación Valle del Lili and Centro Médico Imbanaco).

He earned board certification in pediatric endocrinology by the American Board of Pediatrics. In 2000, he was recruited by UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as a pediatric endocrinologist with an academic appointment at the level of Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and then became an Associate Professor. Dr Escobar’s clinical responsibilities include outpatient and inpatient management of pediatric endocrine disorders and diabetes. He has coauthored several peer review papers and book chapters in pediatric endocrinology topics. His major interest is the evaluation and management of growth disorders in children. He is the director of the Growth Center in the division of Pediatric Endocrinology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He has actively participated as a local PI in multiple multicentric, industry-sponsored growth hormone trials as well as in NIH sponsored research on adolescents with and without diabetes and their transition to adulthood. Additionally, Dr Escobar is recognized for his excellence in teaching of trainees at all levels of medical training and oversees pediatric endocrinology education of residents and medical students as well as the busy observership program in the division of Pediatric Endocrinology.

Professional and Scientific Society Memberships

  • The Endocrine Society, 1996 
  • American Diabetes Association, 1998 
  • Colombian Association of Endocrinology, 1998 
  • Colombian Association of Pediatric Endocrinology, 1998 
  • Pediatric Endocrine Society (formerly Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society), 2003 

Education & Training

  • MD, Universidad del Valle, 1986
  • Rotary Internship in Physician and Surgery, Hospital Universitario, 1985-1986
  • Residency in Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario, 1988-1991
  • Clinical/Research Fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology, Louisiana State University, 1991-1994
  • Residency in Pediatrics, Maimonides Medical Center, 1994-1995
  • Clinical/Research Fellowship in Pediatric Metabolism and Nutrition, 1995-1997

Selected Publications

Bangalore Krishna K, Pagan P, Escobar O, Popovic J. Occurrence of Cranial Neoplasms in Pediatric Patients with Noonan Syndrome Receiving Growth Hormone: Is Screening with Brain MRI prior to Initiation of Growth Hormone Indicated? Horm Res Paediatr.2017;88(6):423-426. Doi 10.1159/000479107. Epub 2017 Jul 26. 

Counts DR, Silverman LA, Rajicic N, Geffner ME, Newfield RS, Thornton P, Carakushansky M, Escobar O, Rapaport R, Levitsky L, Rotenstein D, Hey-Hadavi J, Wajnrajch MP. A 4-Year, Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Trial of Genotropin Growth Hormone in Patients with Idiopathic Short Stature: Analysis of 4-Year Data Comparing Efficacy, Efficiency, and Safety between an Individualized, Target-Driven Regimen and Standard Dosing. Horm Res Paediatr. 2015; 84:79-87. Epub 2015 May 1. 

Helgeson VS, Reynolds KA, Siminerio LM, Becker DJ, Escobar O. Cognitive Adaptation Theory as a Predictor of Adjustment to Emerging Adulthood for Youth with and without Type 1 Diabetes. J Psychosom Res. 2014 Dec;77(6):484-91. Epub 2014 Sep 28 

Helgeson VS, Reynolds KA, Becker D, Escobar O, Siminerio L. Relations of Behavioral Autonomy to Health Outcomes Among Emerging Adults with and without Type 1 Diabetes. J. Pediatr Psychol. 2014bNov;39(10):1126-37. Epub 2014 Aug 24. 

Helgeson VS, Mascatelli K, Reynolds KA, Becker D, Escobar O, Siminerio L. Friendship and Romantic Relationships Among Emerging Adults with and without Type 1 Diabetes. J. Pediatr Psychol. 2015 Apr;40(3):359-72. Epub 2014 Aug 25 

Helgeson VS, Palladino DK, Reynolds KA, Becker D, Escobar O, Siminerio L. Early Adolescent Predictors of Emerging Adult Outcomes: Youth With and Without Type 1 Diabetes. Ann Behav Med. 2014 Jun;47(3):270-9. Epub 2013 Nov 1. 

Counts DR, Silverman LA, Geffner ME, Rajicic N, Hey-Hadavi J, Thornton PS, Wajnrajch MP; ISS Study Group. A four-year, open-label, multicenter, randomized, two-arm study of Genotropin in patients with idiopathic short stature: comparison of an individualized, target-driven treatment regimen to standard dosing of Genotropin – analysis of two-year data. Horm Res Paediatr. 2013;80(4):242-51. Epub 2013 Sep 10 

Helgeson VS, Palladino DK, Reynolds KA, Becker DJ, Escobar O, Siminerio L. Relationships and Health Among Emerging Adults With and Without Type 1 Diabetes. Health Psychol. 2014 Oct;33(10):1125-3. Epub 2013 Aug 5. 

Palladino DK, Helgeson VS, Reynolds KA, Becker DJ, Siminerio LM, Escobar O. Emerging Adults with type 1 diabetes: a comparison to peers without diabetes. J Pediatr Psychol. 2013 Jun;38(5):506-17. Epub 2013 Mar 7. 

Helgeson VS, Reynolds KA, Snyder PR, Palladino DK, Becker DJ, Siminerio L, Escobar O. Characterizing the transition from pediatric to adult care among emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2013 May;30(5):610-5. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Full Publication List via NIH  PubMed  »

Academic and Research Interests

Growth

Growth hormone

Long-acting growth hormone

Growth hormone secretagogue

Research Grants

CP-4-006, “A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter, 12 months, Efficacy and Safety Study of Weekly MOD-4023 Compared to Daily Genotropin Therapy in Pre-pubertal Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency” , 2017-Present, OPKO Biologics Ltd, $89,076

C0311002, “A Phase 3, Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label, Crossover Study Assessing Subject Perception of Treatment Burden with Use of Weekly Growth Hormone (Somatrogon) Versus Daily Growth Hormone (Genotropin) Injections in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency”, 2019-Present, Pfizer, Inc, $18,950

NN8640-426, REAL 4 Study: “A trial comparing  the effect and safety of once weekly dosing of Somapacitan with daily Norditropin in children with growth hormone deficiency”, 2019-Present, Novo Nordisk, $15,950