Dr. Mark E. Molitch is a world-renowned endocrinologist whose career has profoundly shaped the clinical management of pituitary disorders and diabetes complications. He currently holds the distinguished position of Professor Emeritus in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he has been a faculty member since 1984. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1969), Dr. Molitch completed his residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and his endocrine fellowship at UCLA-Harbor General Hospital in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Northwestern, he established his academic foundation at Tufts University Medical School, developing expertise in hormonal disorders that would later define his pioneering contributions to the field. His leadership extends to significant roles including service on the Council of The Endocrine Society from 2007 to 2010 and presidency of The Pituitary Society from 2012 to 2013.
Dr. Molitch's research has fundamentally transformed the understanding and treatment of pituitary tumors, particularly prolactinomas and acromegaly, with his work establishing the standard of care used by clinicians worldwide. He has authored more than 500 scholarly publications including original research papers, comprehensive review articles, and influential book chapters that have advanced the evidence base for managing complex endocrine disorders. His pivotal participation in developing most medical treatments for prolactinomas and acromegaly has directly improved patient outcomes, while his leadership on Endocrine Society guideline committees for Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency, Pituitary Incidentalomas, and Acromegaly has established systematic approaches to diagnosis and treatment. As Principal Investigator for the Northwestern Center of the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, he chaired the Complications Committee and made seminal contributions to understanding the relationship between glycemic control and long-term diabetes complications.
Beyond his direct research impact, Dr. Molitch has been instrumental in educating generations of endocrinologists through his extensive teaching, mentorship, and development of clinical guidelines that shape global practice. His exceptional contributions to endocrine education have been recognized with the Distinguished Educator Award from The Endocrine Society in 2013 and the Outstanding Physician Educator award from the American Diabetes Association in 1997. He continues to influence the field through ongoing participation in major research studies including the Epidemiology of Diabetes and Its Complications study and the Diabetes Prevention Program Observational Study. Dr. Molitch's enduring legacy lies in his rigorous, systematic approach to translating research into clinical practice, which continues to guide endocrinologists worldwide and improve outcomes for patients with complex hormonal disorders.
