Aaron Misakian MD, MFA

Aaron Misakian, MD, MFA, is a first-year pediatric endocrinology fellow at Stanford University with a focus on transgender, gender diverse, and intersex youth. His research is focused on the effects of hormonal replacement therapy on body composition and strength in trans teens undergoing puberty. Currently, Dr. Misakian is conducting a longitudinal study with 75 hormone naïve transgender youth examining lean body mass, fat mass, and functional strength according to DXA, handgrip strength, and knee flexor/extensor strength measurements after one year of either estrogen or testosterone therapy.

Dr. Misakian's training has been richly informed by an equal balance of innovative basic science research combined with first-hand clinical experience within the LGBTQ+ community. Specifically, his formal training in bone health arose from novel stem cell and cartilage regenerative assays he performed at the University of Southern California. With regards to clinical expertise, Dr. Misakian created the first-ever LGBTQ+ resident education curriculum at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), co-authored the first chapter on medical management of transgender youth in Netter’s Pediatrics, and recently conducted a case series report on the effects of estradiol supplementation on bone mineral density in adolescents with Complete Androgen Insensitivity (CAIS). His work on bone mineral density in adolescents with CAIS was presented at the 2021 Pediatric Endocrine Society, where it was recognized as a Presidential Poster for its outstanding contribution to pediatric endocrinology by a medical trainee.

Dr. Misakian graduated Alpha Omega Alpha from the University of Washington School of Medicine with completion of both the Native American and Underserved pathways. As someone who identifies as under-represented in medicine, he is passionate about creating an inclusive environment for physician scientists and receiving mentorship from Black, indigenous, and people of color in addition to individuals with disabilities. Dr. Misakian's long-term research goal is to advance the healthcare of transgender and gender-diverse adolescents by improving our understanding of how hormonal replacement therapy affects bone health, strength, and risk factors for metabolic disease.