About Professor Kate Steinbeck
Adolescent medicine is a ‘youthful’ specialty compared to paediatrics and adult medicine. There is a scientific imperative to expand the evidence base in critical areas of adolescent medicine in order to change health trajectories in adolescence for the better. One of these critical areas is how rapidly changing puberty hormones affect adolescent health, behaviour and wellbeing.
I am an endocrinologist and adolescent physician, and hold the inaugural Medical Foundation Chair in Adolescent Medicine, based at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
My research in chronic childhood illness and the transition to adult care, the management of adolescent and young adult obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors and the late effects of cancer therapy in adolescents has been translated into clinical practice and I believe that research outcomes should make a difference to the lives of young people.
At the Academic Department of Adolescent Medicineat The Children's Hospital Westmead, I am chief investigator on an adolescent rural cohort study (ARCHER) addressing the fascinating question of how puberty hormones affect mental and physical health and wellbeing and risk taking behaviours. With established protocols and on line questionnaires the ARCHER study can be modified to suit studies in many adolescent groups and current research involves a more detailed investigation of sleep, depression and puberty. I can offer projects which include the measurement of puberty hormones using less invasive methods (blood spot and urine) as part of the puberty hormone research. I maintain a clinical practice in cystic fibrosis related diabetes and hormone replacement in hypogonadal females. These clinics can support research projects. Collaborations with disease specific services in both paediatrics and adult medicine (including endocrinology, obesity, cardiology, respiratory, spina bifida), allow for multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research. ADAM has specific funding to undertake research with at risk youth, particularly those living out of home and with mental health and substance abuse problems. I can be contacted for further information about these Marie Bashir Clinical Research Fellowships in Adolescent Health.