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David R. Weber, MD, MSCE
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Endocrinology
Dr. Weber is a clinical researcher focused on improving bone health in children. He is currently focused on investigating the effects of effects of type 1 diabetes and Duchenne muscular dystrophy on the skeleton.
Bio
The goal of Dr. Weber’s clinical and research program is to improve bone health in children. Originally from the state of Kansas, he earned degrees from Carleton College (BA), University of Kansas Medical School (MD), and the University of Pennsylvania (MSCE). His clinical training was at Yale (pediatrics residency) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (endocrinology fellowship). Prior to joining the faculty at CHOP, he worked at the Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center from 2014-2020.
Clinically, Dr. Weber cares for children and young adults with a wide variety of bone health disorders – everything from rare genetic conditions that affect skeletal development to secondary forms of osteoporosis brought on by chronic disease.
He is actively engaged in both population-based and prospective clinical research projects investigating the effects of chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) on bone health. He also has interest in improving the clinical effectiveness of pediatric bone health practice and has contributed to the development of clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with DMD and for the use of DXA in children.
Dr. Weber has earned several notable career achievements:
- Awarded K23 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to investigate bone health in youth with T1D
- Co-chair of the endocrinology section to update the Care Considerations for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Co-chair of the pediatric task force to update the International Society for Clinical Densitometry positions on the use of DXA in children
Education and Training
BA, Carleton College (Biology), 2002
MD, University of Kansas (Medicine), 2007
Residency, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital (Pediatrics), 2010
Fellowship (Endocrinology), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2013
MSCE (Clinical Epidemiology), University of Pennsylvania, 2013
Titles and Academic Titles
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Endocrinology
Professional Memberships
International Society for Clinical Densitometry, 2019-
Society for Pediatric Research, 2017-
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2012-
Pediatric Endocrine Society, 2011-
Endocrine Society, 2011-
Professional Awards
ASBMR Rising Star Award, 2019
ASBMR John Haddad Young Investigator Award, 2015
Helmsley Charitable Trust Abstract Awards in Type 1 Diabetes, 2015
ASBMR President’s Poster Award for Exceptional Abstract Presentation, 2013
CHOP Poster Day Award in Patient Oriented Research, 2013
Tom Moshang Research Award, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2012
Paul Ambrose Scholar, Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, 2004
Magna Cum Laude, Carleton College, 2002
Publication Highlights
PubMed:
Weber DR, Gordon RJ, Kelley JC, Leonard MB, Willi SM, Hatch-Stein J, Kelly A, Kosacci O, Kucheruk O, Kaafarani M, Zemel BS. Poor glycemic control is associated with impaired bone accrual in the year following a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. JCEM. 2019 Oct; 104(10):4511-4520 PMID 31034056
Weber DR, Boyce A, Gordon C, Hogler W, Kecskemethy HH, Misra M, Swolin-Eide D, Tebben P, Ward LM, Wasserman H, Shuhart C, Zemel BS. The utility of DXA assessment at the forearm, proximal femur, and lateral distal femur, and vertebral fracture assessment in the pediatric population: The 2019 official pediatric positions of the ISCD. J Clin Densitom. 2019 Jul; 22(4):567-589. PMID 31421951
Birnkrant DJ, Bushby K, Bann CM, Alman BA, Apkon SD, Blackwell A, Case LE, Cripe L, Hadijyannakis S, Olson AK, Sheehan DW, Bolen J, Weber DR, Ward LM for the DMD Care Considerations Working Group. Diagnosis and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, part 2: respiratory, cardiac, bone health, and orthopaedic management. Lancet Neurol. 2018 Apr; 17(4):347-361.PMID: 29395990
Weber DR, Thomas S, Erickson SW, Fox D, Oleszek J, Pandya S, Venkatesh Y, Westfield C, Ciaffaloni E. Bone health and endocrine care of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: data from the MD STARnet. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2018 Jan; 5(4):497-507. PMID 30149461 PMCID: PMC6277257
Weber DR, Haynes K, Leonard MB, Willi SM, Denburg MR. Type 1 diabetes and fracture risk: A population-based study using the health improvement network (THIN). Diabetes Care. 2015 Oct; 38(10):1913-20. PMID 26216874. PMCID: PMC4580610
Active Grants/Contracts
Investigation of Bone Mineral Homeostasis in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
- 2020-2021
- Goals: To investigate effects of non-ambulatory status on skeletal outcomes in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- PI: Weber
The Study of Testosterone and rHGH in FSHD (STARFISH)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- 2017-2021
- Goals: Phase 1 clinical trial of growth hormone and testosterone to improve muscle strength in adults with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
- PI: Heatwole