Kristen Gill Hairston, MD MPH

Dr. Kristen Gill Hairston, a native of Maryland, is a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Section of

Endocrinology and Metabolism. In addition to her clinical work, she is an affiliate of the Maya Angelou Research Center for Health Equity and the associate program director for the Adult Endocrinology fellowship program.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Wake Forest University, her Doctor of Medicine and her Master of Public Health degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her internship/ residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Her clinical interests are in diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, calcium regulation, obesity,

hormone imbalances and polycystic ovarian syndrome. In addition to seeing patients, she teaches medical students, graduate students, residents and fellows. Her previous research includes assessments of obesity risk factors for in children and the effectiveness of certain diabetes medications in the African American population.

Her research has focused on clinical ways to measure subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and the health implications of these fat depots. She was involved with several large studies (i.e. Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerosis (IRAS), Jackson Heart Study (JHS) and Diabetes Heart Study (DHS)) investigating the effect of abdominal adiposity on other disease states. She has published on the pattern of abdominal weight gain in African Americans, the role of sleep in weight gain and the role of Vitamin D in fat accumulation. She was a contributing author to the book, "Diabetes in Black America: Public Health and Clinical Solutions to A National Crisis".

One of her goals has been to share her research knowledge and passion for endocrinology with her clinical colleagues and her patients/lay public. As such, her research findings, discussing the impact of lifestyle on fat deposition, have been presented in over 100 articles in the popular press and she spends much of her free time speaking to community groups to improve their health.

When not at work, she enjoys gourmet cooking and spending time with her husband and two young adult children.

2024-2025                            Kristen Gill Hairston, MD  -  Bio