Get to Know: Dr. Nina Suda

Meet the newest member of the Berrie Center, Nina Suda, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center! Dr. Suda joined the team as an adult endocrinologist earlier this year and brings with her a wealth of knowledge, energy and enthusiasm.

Dr. Suda is no stranger to the neighborhood, having received her undergraduate degree at Columbia University and completed her fellowship at CUIMC. Here’s a little bit about Dr. Suda’s background and current interests…

First things first, she was destined to become a doctor.

“I come from a family of doctors. Both of my parents would always come home with a smile. As I grew up, I thought, “Why wouldn’t I want to do something like this?” It was always on my radar to be a doctor one day, partly because of our dinner table discussions and how much my parents loved their work.”

She never thought she would go into endocrinology, but she says research drew her to the field. In college, she started getting involved in endocrine research, specifically in bone physiology.

“When I applied to medical school, I kept an open mind about everything,” she says. “Ultimately, I realized I wanted to pursue and dig a little deeper into endocrinology, and so I did.”

In 2018, Dr. Suda joined Columbia University’s scholarship program and recalls being particularly excited about the research track. Dr. Utpal Pajvani, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at CUIMC, became her mentor early on in her fellowship.

In his lab, Dr. Suda worked to uncover new mechanisms that could lead to the development of diabetes.

“The thought is by identifying new mechanisms, we might also identify new treatment strategies,” says Dr. Suda.

During her fellowship, while she was exploring research avenues, Dr. Suda also familiarized herself with diabetes patients and all the new technology coming onto the market, like insulin pumps, sensors, and the latest diabetes drugs.

“That clinical experience during fellowship, combined with having an amazing mentor, made me all-in on diabetes, specifically within endocrinology and adult medicine,” says Dr. Suda. “When I was on the inpatient wards, and I felt like I couldn’t help someone and that would really hurt me. I would take it hard. I really wanted to be on the preventative side and use technology to help people. I think that’s why diabetes became of interest to me.”

Dr. Suda also credits Berrie Center Co-Director Dr. Robin Goland, J. Merrill Eastman Professorship of Clinical Diabetes, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Columbia University, for being incredibly supportive of her career development.

“Dr. Goland has been such a support, and I owe her so much for that reason. The culture of the Berrie Center, the opportunity to engage in academics, and to do a lot more is incredible,” says Dr. Suda. “There’s so much potential here, and the care the team at the Berrie Center provides to patients is outstanding.”

Dr. Suda is destined to do great things at the Berrie Center, and we are excited to witness each milestone.

To make an appointment with Dr. Suda, click here.