UPMC Children’s Welcomes New Pancreatic Disorders Center Medical Director, Madhura Phadke, MD

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is pleased to welcome Madhura Phadke, MD, to the Division as the new medical director of the Pancreatic Disorders Center. In addition to her clinical appointments, Dr. Phadke is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Phadke earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine and subsequently completed her residency training in pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Yale University School of Medicine.

Prior to joining UPMC Children’s, Dr. Phadke practiced at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio for three and a half years and then moved on to practice for two years at Stanford University.

“I grew up in western Pennsylvania and had always known about the world-class reputation for medical care and research that UPMC Children’s is known for, so it was an easy decision to take on this position at such a hospital, and also move back home to be closer to family,” says Dr. Phadke. “The pancreas program at UPMC Children’s has always been a large and well-regarded program, one with the distinction of being a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence, so I was thrilled to be able to take on a leadership role in the Division and help to further grow our clinical programs.”

Dr. Phadke began to focus on pancreatology in her clinical practice during her fellowship training at Yale, working in the laboratory of noted pancreas researcher Dr. Fred Gorelick. Furthermore, during her practice at Akron Children's Hospital, Dr. Phadke began working with patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), which ultimately led to her receiving a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to pursue advanced training in caring for patients with CF.

"Over time, we've come to realize that CF really affects the entire body and its organ systems, and the pancreas is one of those organs that can become significantly impaired through the disease process. Interestingly, while CF was primarily thought to be a disease of the lungs, its discovery initially was made through pathological analysis of the pancreas during the 1930s and 1940s by the pioneering researcher and physician Dr. Dorothy Anderson," says Dr. Phadke.

In addition to her clinical duties as medical director of the Pancreas Disorders Center and collaborating on patient care in the multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis center at UPMC Children’s, Dr. Phadke will be working to increase the patient and provider awareness about the Total Pancreatectomy with Autologous Islet-Cell Transplantation (TPAIT) program at UPMC Children’s.

“There are only a handful of programs in the country that are able to conduct these complex transplants for children with debilitating chronic pancreatitis,” says Dr. Phadke. “In the right circumstances and with well-selected patients, these transplants can radically improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Phadke also will take over as the site principal investigator for the INSPPIRE 2 Study that is ongoing with patient recruitment. This multicenter study is working to better understand pediatric recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis, its causes, its prevalence, and how the disease progresses over time.

“It’s great to be at UPMC Children’s,” says Dr. Phadke. “I’m looking forward to the many collaborations I’ll be able to have, both within our division and in other areas of the hospital and School of Medicine. It is truly a pleasure to be able to provide care to this community and region.”