With the launch of touchENDOCRINOLOGY Future Leaders in 2025, we have been speaking with rising stars across the specialty about their career paths, motivations and the challenges they have encountered so far.

Drawing on the experience of expert faculty and emerging leaders who have already navigated many of the early hurdles, we asked for one piece of career advice to share with those just starting out. Their reflections highlight the importance of curiosity, compassion, adaptability and purpose in building a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Embracing breadth and patient-centred purpose

Sourabh Sharma (Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhaman Mahaveer Medical College, New Delhi, India) encourages early-career clinicians to look beyond traditional boundaries and focus on prevention, collaboration and holistic care.

“My advice to early-career healthcare professionals entering nephrology would be: embrace the breadth of the specialty, go beyond dialysis and learn the expanding horizons of metabolic, preventive, and transplant nephrology. Cultivate curiosity, compassion, and collaboration; stay grounded in patient-centred care while keeping pace with evolving evidence and technology. Remember, nephrology is not just about treating kidney failure, it’s about preserving kidney health and improving lives through early intervention and holistic metabolic care.”

Combining technology and human connection

Paul Dimitri (Professor of Child Health and Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, UK) reminds early-career clinicians that while technology is transforming paediatric endocrinology, empathy and advocacy remain central.

“If I could offer one piece of advice to early-career healthcare professionals entering paediatric endocrinology today, it would be this: stay relentlessly curious, and never lose sight of the child behind the data. The field is evolving rapidly, with AI, genomics, and digital health reshaping how we diagnose and manage endocrine conditions, but the heart of our work remains unchanged: listening, understanding, and advocating. Learn to navigate complexity with humility, collaborate across disciplines, and embrace technology not as a replacement for empathy, but as a tool to deepen it. Your clinical decisions will shape lives, so make them with rigour, compassion, and a commitment to equity.”

Curiosity, complexity and compassion

Iulia Pirga (University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Medicover, Craiova, Romania), selected as a touchENDOCRINOLOGY Future Leader 2025, highlights the intellectual richness of endocrinology and the importance of seeing the patient beyond the diagnosis.

“My advice is to remain curious at all times. Endocrinology is a complex specialty, with strong interactions with fields such as cardiology and gynaecology, and it is constantly evolving. As a result, there are multiple opportunities to engage in research on fascinating and diverse topics, from metabolic disease to rare endocrine disorders, which makes the field both challenging and rewarding. And above all, always remember to treat the patient as a unique individual. Our role is not only to treat the disease, but to provide care with the same respect and compassion we would wish for ourselves.”

Let passion shape your path

Eleni Armeni (Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK) focuses on the value of passion, mentorship and carving out a niche in a broad and evolving specialty.

“If I could give one piece of advice to early-career healthcare professionals entering endocrinology and diabetes today, it would be to follow your passion. This is a field with enormous breadth, from thyroid disease to reproductive endocrinology, diabetes technologies, metabolic liver disease and beyond, and the most fulfilling careers are built where genuine curiosity meets patient need. Don’t be afraid to carve out a niche, seek mentors who inspire you, and stay open to new science and technologies. Passion will sustain you through exams, service pressures and grant rejections, and it will keep your practice innovative and patient-centred.”

Lifelong learning in a rapidly changing landscape

Mangesh Tiwaskar (Department of Medicine, Shilpa Medical Centre, Mumbai, India) emphasises adaptability and continuous learning as essential foundations for long-term success.

“If I could give one piece of advice to early-career healthcare professionals, it would be to prioritise lifelong learning and adaptability. The healthcare landscape is evolving faster than ever. New technologies, treatments, and research are constantly changing the way care is delivered. The knowledge you gain in school and residency is a critical foundation, but it’s not the final word. To truly thrive, you must see yourself as a student for life. This means more than just completing required continuing education credits. It’s about staying curious about emerging technologies like AI and telehealth, being open to new ways of collaborating with different specialties, learning to adapt your practice as patient needs and health systems change. Embracing this mindset will not only make you a more effective practitioner but will also help you navigate the inevitable challenges and find greater professional satisfaction.”

Across these perspectives, a clear message emerges: a successful career in endocrinology is built on curiosity, compassion and a willingness to evolve. Whether through embracing new technologies, exploring the breadth of the specialty, or staying grounded in patient-centred care, early-career clinicians are encouraged to shape careers that align passion with purpose. For the next generation of endocrinologists, success lies not in a single defined path, but in remaining open, reflective and committed to lifelong growth.

Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchENDOCRINOLOGY, with thanks to the experts who provided their expert insights.  The touchENDOCRINOLOGY team utilize AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-5.2) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.) The content was developed and edited by human editors. No funding was received in the publication of this article.

Looking for more expert insights? Take a look at our recent expert perspectives:

• Glenn D Braunstein highlights advances in GLP-1 therapies for diabetes, obesity and beyond. Read now
• Dr Iulia Pirga on obesity, innovation and AI in endocrinology. Read now