Physician Profile

David N. Finegold, MD, is an experienced clinician, researcher and educator who specializes in biochemical genetics and pediatric endocrinology. He is a faculty member of the Division of Medical Genetics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and is professor of pediatrics and professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Finegold completed a bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Pittsburgh in 1968 and earned his medical degree from the School of Medicine in 1972. Following an internship and residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital, he accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, which he completed in 1977. He served as an assistant physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from 1978 until he joined the University of Pittsburgh faculty in 1981. His academic positions have included assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, assistant professor of both pediatrics and medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and associate professor of both pediatrics and medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He was named to his current positions of professor of pediatrics and professor of medicine at the university in 1996.

Dr. Finegold's clinical interests focus on biochemical genetics and pediatric endocrinology. He serves as a consultant to the clinical biochemical genetics laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His research interests are diverse. He is a faculty member at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh and leads a research team that is investigating the genetic basis of lymphedema. He also is studying genes that contribute to complex diseases, as well as quantitative trait locus analysis. He is a member of the Asher Group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, which is developing novel biomolecular sensors. This work includes developing an ammonia sensor, which may also be coupled with a phenylalanine sensor. These sensors will be helpful in the home management of patients with phenylketonuria and urea cycle disorders.

Dr. Finegold is board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric endocrinology and biochemical genetics. He is the author or co-author of more than 80 articles published in leading medical and scientific journals. His memberships in professional and scientific societies include the American Society of Human Genetics, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, American Diabetes Association, The American Federation for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, American Society of Nephrology, and The Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders.