Dr. Sophie Patzek is an endocrinologist who cares for patients with hormonal conditions, including diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, thyroid disorders, parathyroid disorders (which affect a gland, next to the thyroid, that regulates calcium), osteoporosis, pituitary disorders and adrenal disorders. She has a special interest in caring for women with hormonal disorders before, during and after pregnancy.
In research, Patzek focuses on using improving care for people with hormonal conditions by implementing new technology and scientific findings into her treatments for patients. She is especially interested in optimizing insulin management in complicated and high-risk settings, such as during pregnancy and hospitalization. Her work has also included studying pancreatic biology and how islet cells (pancreatic cells that produce insulin and other hormones) function, with the hope that further understanding could help inform new approaches to diabetes treatment.
Patzek earned her medical degree from UT Health San Antonio. She completed an internal medicine residency at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in endocrinology at UCSF.
Patzek is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. During medical school, she received the O. Roger Hollan, M.D., Award for outstanding humanism and academic excellence in internal medicine.
In addition to caring for patients, Patzek teaches fellows, residents and medical students about the field of endocrinology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga and exploring the outdoors with her two kids.