Rachel L. Goldberg-Gell, APRN

Rachel Goldberg-Gell, APRN, is a nurse practitioner who specializes in pediatric endocrinology. She treats children and adolescents who have obesity, insulin resistance, lipid disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). She also provides care for teens undergoing bariatric surgery.

Her draw to the medical profession began as a young child, when she observed her pediatrician father making rounds with patients. “When I was 10 years old, I was in a bad accident, and was hospitalized at Yale,” Goldberg-Gell says. “And I had a nurse who made such a difference in my care—I never forgot her.” Goldberg-Gell saw nursing as an opportunity to treat patients within a multifactorial system.

“I try to address not just the medical condition, but also the social, environmental, and familial aspects of care,” she says. “You cannot change someone in one visit. You have to take it step-by-step and goal-by-goal while working toward the ultimate achievement of preventing long-term chronic illness.”

The possibility of weight loss medications that are safe enough for adolescents is one of several promising developments in the field, Goldberg-Gell explains. “Bariatric surgery is important because it increases life expectancy for teens and decreases the risk of developing of chronic conditions like diabetes and kidney or liver disease,” she says.

Goldberg-Gell looks forward to any progress her patients make. “Many of my patients deal with a stigma of failure or blame, and that’s not the truth. Obesity is not just about food—not at all. I tell my patients that every small step they take is a huge success.”

“I also tell them that this is a long road and that they can expect frustration,” she says. “In a lot of ways, their body is fighting against them. I am there for them at every step, even if they are not yet ready to make changes. Making sure they know they are supported is important to me. I hope that I make a difference for my patients just as my nurse did for me.”