Metabolic Bone Disease
The Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic offers complete, family-focused care for children and adolescents with complex bone health conditions. Our program is both collaborative and convenient. Our team brings together specialists in endocrinology, orthopedics, genetics and pain management so patients can see the full care team during a single visit.
This coordinated, same-day approach allows for seamless communication among providers and personalized evaluation and treatment plans tailored to each child’s unique needs — all within one academic medical center dedicated to advancing pediatric bone health.
The clinic sees patients on the first Wednesday afternoon of each month on the 8th floor of Doctor’s Office Tower at Monroe Carell.
Conditions We Treat
We evaluate and manage a multitude of metabolic bone diseases, including more than 400 known genetic skeletal disorders. Some examples include:
- Calcium disorders
- Fibrous dysplasia
- Frequent fractures
- Hypophosphatasia
- Hypophosphatemic rickets
- Osteopetrosis or other high-bone density disorders
- Osteoporosis or other low-bone density disorders
Meet Your Care Team
Jill H. SimmonsMD
- Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1, Type 2, MODY, CF-Related, Neonatal,
- Growth Disorders: Short Stature, Gigantism,
- Metabolic Bone Diseases, Disorders of Mineral Metabolism,
- Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology,
- Pediatric Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism,
- Pituitary Disorders,
- Thyroid Disorders
Kathryn M. DahirMD
- Diabetes and Endocrinology,
- Endocrinology and Metabolism,
- Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease,
- Parathyroid
Andrew D. FranklinMD, MBA
- Anesthesiology,
- Cancer pain,
- Chronic Headache,
- Complex Region Pain Syndrome,
- Interventional Pain,
- Neuropathic Pain,
- Pain Medicine
Jeffrey E. MartusMD, MS
- Orthopaedic Surgery,
- Orthopaedics,
- Pediatric Limb Differences,
- Pediatric Orthopaedics,
- Pediatric Orthopaedics and Surgery,
- Pediatric Spinal Surgery,
- Spine
Why Choose the Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic at Monroe Carell
- Personalized care
Our team of medical and surgical experts work closely together — in one convenient place — to build a treatment plan for your child’s unique needs.
- Nationally recognized experts
For more than 20 years, our providers have studied rare and complex bone disorders to find new and better treatments. This means your child benefits from the most advanced care possible. If it's a good fit for your family, your child may have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge clinical research.
- Advanced therapies
Our team has extensive experience with all the latest medicines and treatments for metabolic bone diseases. If your child needs other types of care, we can quickly connect them to specialists in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), pulmonology (lungs and breathing), nephrology (kidneys), nutrition (food and healthy eating), physical therapy (moving and building strength) and audiology (hearing).
- One-day visits and clear treatment plans
You can meet with our entire care team during a single visit, saving your family time and extra travel. We can build a care plan just for your child’s specific needs. We will talk through all your options, including physical therapy, surgery, medicine and ways to manage pain.
- A coordinated approach
We work closely with the adult metabolic bone disease experts at Vanderbilt Health. This helps your child smoothly move from their pediatric provider to their adult provider when they grow up.
Tests, Treatments and Services
We offer a full range of tests, treatments and services, including:
- Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans
- Dentistry consultation
- Fracture management
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Laboratory and urine studies
- Medical treatment, including bisphosphonates and other bone-promoting agents
- Occupational therapy