Dr. Kaufman is strongly passionate about diabetes research and advocacy and is one of the world's leading authorities on the disease. Despite Dr. Kaufman’s imminence in the diabetes and endocrinology communities, the story of her invention of the Extend Nutrition formula is a humble one. In search of a solution for her patients suffering from hypoglycemia, Dr. Kaufman developed a complex carbohydrate formula in her own kitchen which was later clinically tested and proven to help control blood sugar. Effective for diabetes and weight management, the Extend Nutrition product line is a direct extension of Dr. Kaufman's passion and brilliance in diabetes research.
"We know that lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes. We’ve proven that if people eat right, lose weight and become physically active, they can halt the progression to full-blown diabetes.
I hope you will join me to set a new course, redefine and redirect progress, and stop the ‘diabesity’ epidemic.”
- From Diabesity; Francine Kaufman (2006)
Full Biography - Dr. Francine Kaufman, M.D.
Education and Areas of Specialty
Bachelor’s Degree – 1972; Northwestern UniversityMedical Degree – 1976; Chicago Medical School
Internship – 1976-1977: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Residency – 1977-1978: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Fellowship – 1978-80; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Specialties:
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- Type 2 Diabetes, Galactosemia
- Androgen Metabolism in Human Skin
- Growth Failure
- Bone Mineralization
- Ambiguous Genitalia
Honors and Awards
Presidencies: Former National President of the American Diabetes Association (2002-03); Former President of Shaping America’s Health
American Diabetes Association: The Woman of Valor Award (2003); the Banting Medal (2003)
American Board of Pediatrics: certified in pediatric endocrinology and metabolism
Partners in Care Foundation: Mathies Award for Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership (2006)
European Association for the Study of Diabetes: Albert Renold Award (2003)
California State Senate: Recognition for her work in banning soda in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Leon Mow Visiting Professor: International Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia (2001)
Distinguished Professor Emerita: Pediatrics and Communications; Keck School of Medicine and Annenberg School of Communications of the University of Southern California
Elected Memberships: Institute of Medicine (2005); Advisory Council of the Diabetes Branch of the NIH (2009); AOA Medical Honorary Society; Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (2005); American Board of Pediatrics
One of only two pediatric endocrinologists in Southern California listed in the West Coast and Pacific region in “America’s Top Doctors.”
Listed in Best Doctors in America®.
Recipient of more than 40 grants and contracts from the federal government, corporations and foundations.
Other awards from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Partners in Care, Starbright Foundation
Positions
American Diabetes Association, Local:
ADA Los Angeles Chapter, including service on the professional and patient education committee (1985-present); board of directors (1986-present; president, 1988-90); caper committee (1986-present); and fundraising committee (1990-present)
American Diabetes Association, State:
Public seminar committee (1985-present); Board of Directors (1988-present); Executive Committee 1991-present); President, (1996-97)
American Diabetes Association, National:
Scientific Advisory Group (1997-present); Programs Committee (1997-present); Board of Directors (1993-1996; 2000); Task Force on Health Care Reform (chair, 1993-95); Task Force on Signature Advocacy (1993-94); Public Policy Leadership Forum (1995-96); Professional Education Project Team (1999-present); Task Force on Schools (2002-03); Nominating Committee (2003-04); President of the American Diabetes Association (2002-03)
American Academy of Pediatrics: Member of the Endocrine Executive Committee (1998-present); Member of the AAP Task Force on Obesity.
Investigator: Principal investigator of the NIH-funded TrialNet; Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative
Delegate: California Task Force on Childhood Obesity; Healthy School Summit in Washington, D.C. (2003)
Chairperson: Los Angeles County Task Force on Children and Youth Physical Fitness (2002); Youth Consultative Section of the International Diabetes Federation; Head of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; NIH-funded “Studies to Treat or Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Youth” (STOPP-T2)
Attending Physician: Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Professor: Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Visiting Professor: Baystate Medical Center, Boston (2001); the University of California, San Francisco (2002); the University of Chicago (2003); and Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati (2004)
Publications
Author of 'Diabesity' (Bantam Dell/Random House – 2005)
Publisher: More than 90 peer-reviewed publications; more than 130 articles and abstracts
Author: More than 30 books or book chapters
Member of Editorial Board: International Diabetes Monitor (1994-95; 1998-present); Diabetes Forecast (1998-present); Diabetes Reviews (1998-present); Current Diabetes Reports (2001-present); Pediatric Diabetes (2002-present); DOC News (2004-present)
Journal Reviewer: Journal of Pediatrics; Acta Pediatrica; European Journal of Pediatrics; Pediatrics; International Diabetes Monitor; Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; Diabetes Care; Pediatric Diabetes; ACTA Endocrinologist; The New England Journal of Medicine and Diabetes
Frequent speaker at national and international meetings
Advocacy
Los Angeles City Council – Promoting Youth Physical Fitness (2004)State of California – Ban of sodas from Los Angeles Unified School District (2003)
National Institutes of Health: Studies to Treat (TODAY Trial) and Prevent (HEALTHY Trial) Type 2 Diabetes in Youth, or ‘STOPP-T2'
Discovery Health: Participant in documentary on global diabetes epidemic, aired around the world on World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2007
Participation: Diabetes Work Group for the Department of Health Services of the State of California to recommend diabetes treatment and prevention strategies for the Medicaid population (2007); Juvenile Diabetes Association; National Diabetes Education Program; International Diabetes Federation; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; UNESCO
Involvement In Causes: Youth Health, Youth Fitness, Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Education, International Diabetes Awareness