Ariana Pichardo-Lowden

Ariana Pichardo-Lowden is a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Penn State College of Medicine, where she has been a faculty member since 2010. She is a board-certified clinical endocrinologist and clinician-investigator with a focus on diabetes care, health informatics, and quality improvement. Her clinical work spans ambulatory clinics in Hershey and Harrisburg, PA, and she serves as physician lead for the inpatient diabetes interdisciplinary team at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Education:

• MD (magna cum laude), Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra
• Internal Medicine Residency, Mount Carmel Health System
• Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• Master of Adult Education, The Pennsylvania State University
• MS in Clinical Research, Penn State College of Medicine

Dr. Pichardo-Lowden’s research interests center on reducing gaps in diabetes care through system-level interventions, clinical decision support tools, and preventive strategies. Her work leverages electronic health records and health informatics to optimize glycemic management in hospitalized patients. She has led NIH-funded projects, including an NIDDK K23 and R01 grant, to assess care barriers and implement decision support systems in both academic and community hospitals. Her research also addresses health disparities, particularly among Hispanic/Latino populations.

Her recent publications (2023–2024) reflect a strong focus on diabetes management post-pancreatitis, cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes, euglycemic ketoacidosis risk with SGLT2 inhibitors, and transitional care models for minority populations. These works employ retrospective cohort studies, real-world data analysis, and pilot interventions, often using electronic health records as a core data source. Key themes include clinical decision support, glycemic control, and health equity.

Scientific Awards:

• Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2019)
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018)
• HCAHPS Dean's List for Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction (2018)
• HCAHPS Inpatient Dean's List for Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction (2016)
• HCAHPS Inpatient Dean's List for Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction (2015)

Dr. Pichardo-Lowden is deeply involved in medical education, mentoring students and residents across multiple programs. She teaches in core medical school courses and developed curricula for diabetes self-management in Spanish and quality improvement for endocrinology fellows. She advises Endo for All and previously mentored the Latin Medical Student Association. She is a faculty mentor in the Junior Faculty Development Program and the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. Her grants include major NIH funding for clinical decision support and systems-based interventions in diabetes care.

She is also active in professional organizations including The Endocrine Society, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the National Research Mentoring Network. She contributes to global health through volunteer initiatives in the Dominican Republic, focusing on prevention and education in underserved communities.