Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2017 - 6

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Career Perspectives: An Interview With Rebecca Simmons, MD
Rebecca Simmons, MD
ADA Interest Group Chair - Pregnancy & Reproductive Health
Hallam Hurt Endowed Professor Pediatrics
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Why did you choose to go into diabetes research?
Many years ago, there was an observation made that the
intrauterine environment plays a role in the development
of adult diseases. Malnutrition, diabetes during pregnancy,
and uteroplacental insufficiency (when the placenta does
not function properly, restricting fetal growth) can all lead
to the development of diabetes later in life.
I had studied physiology many years ago, and I was
interested in growth restriction. So, when I learned about
fetal programming of adult diseases, I became interested
in this field of research. We developed an animal model of
growth restriction and studied mechanisms in that model,
particularly focused on what was leading to the development of β-cell dysfunction. That was obviously a very
important cell to study.

What do you like most and least about your
specialty?

What organizations, memberships, or networks
have played key roles in your career so far?
Certainly, the ADA has played a huge role. I would also
say the Endocrine Society to some degree, and the other
diabetes and pregnancy study groups we have become
involved in over the years have also been beneficial.

Why did you initially become involved with ADA?
Many years ago, when I first thought about studying this
problem, my research had been really focused on fetal
development, and one of my mentors said I should go to
a diabetes meeting to learn about diabetes and pregnancy.
The Scientific Sessions is a phenomenal meeting. There is
cutting-edge science presented there, and you can learn
about what people are doing all over the world, in all
different fields. You learn new techniques, new strategies,
new ways to think about your research. Now I'm involved
in the program committee for diabetes and pregnancy.

There is always something new around the corner that is
exciting to think about. This field also gives you an opportunity to interact with a lot of very smart people who
are thinking about these questions in different ways. We
get together at the American Diabetes Association (ADA)
meetings and everyone brings their area of expertise to
the table. There are so many different ways to approach
solving a problem.

Have you got any advice for young professionals
in your specialty on achieving work-life balance?

The difficulty in finding funding is what I like least.

From your perspective, what is the biggest
problem within your specialty?

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years?
Everybody is very interested in reprogramming β-cells. I
think the field in the next 10 years will be focused on how
to do this in humans and how we can use those technologies to improve diabetes care.

What's YOUR Interest Group?

You have to put your family first; that is the most important piece of advice I would give anybody. I think young
women and men, particularly women, need to be willing
to ask for help and take help and collaborate as much as
possible.

Right now, the lack of research funding is the number one
problem. Number two is getting young physicians and scientists interested in basic research; they are worried about
funding and about how to balance life and work issues in
such a competitive scientific environment. So, the pipeline
is turning into a trickle, and I worry a lot about that. We
need role models who can show them that it is possible to
succeed without sacrificing your family.

Don't miss the latest interest group discussions, awards, publications, and
participant connections at professional.diabetes.org/interestgroups.

http://professional.diabetes.org/interestgroups

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2017