Francine Kaufman

Francine Ratner Kaufman, M.D. (aka Dr. Gramma) is one of America’s foremost pediatric endocrinologists. She is Chief Medical Officer and VP of Global Clinical, Medical, and Health Affairs at a leading medical device company and a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Pediatrics and Communications at University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. From 2001-2009, she was Head of the Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Kaufman was national president of the American Diabetes Association in 2002-03. In 2005, she became a member of the board of directors of Shaping America’s Health and was its president in 2006.

Dr. Kaufman has been an author both for lay audiences and the medical community. Her book, Diabesity describes how families, individuals, and communities can overcome the global obesity and diabetes epidemic. Her novel, Rhythms, explores family relationships, and the complexities of a career in medicine. Dr. Kaufman helped develop and was featured in the Discovery Health documentary Diabetes: the Global Epidemic, which was aired on World Diabetes Day in 2007. She also authored Insulin Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A User's Guide to Effective Diabetes Management and the Medical Management of Type 1 Diabetes for the American Diabetes Association. She has been an NIH-funded investigator throughout her career, and has authored 165 peer-reviewed and 90 invited articles, and 40 book chapters.

Dr. Kaufman has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including, the Woman of Valor Award (2003) from the American Diabetes Association; the Banting Medal (2003) from the American Diabetes Association; and the Albert Renold Award (2003) from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (2003). In 2004, she was appointed by Congress as a Local Legend with the American Woman’s Medical Association. She was honored by the National Diabetes Education Program for her leadership in Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel. In 2005, she was recognized by Los Angeles City Council for her work in health promotion. Dr. Kaufman is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics and is board certified in pediatric endocrinology and metabolism. In 2005, she was elected Membership in the Institute of Medicine. From 2009-2013, she was elected to membership in the Advisory Council of the Diabetes Branch of the NIH.

You can visit her website at drgramma.com.