Mahesh Dhanasekaran, MBBS

Assistant Professor   
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

What is your primary professional focus as it relates to our mission areas (clinical, research and/or medical education)?   
My three areas of clinical interest in endocrinology include:

1. Transplant Endocrinology: My primary focus is to evaluate and optimize pre-existing endocrine disorders in pre-transplant (solid organ and hematological transplant) individuals for better post-transplant outcomes. These patients are also at risk for developing new endocrine-related, post-transplant disorders that increase their cardiovascular mortality. 
2. Clinical Lipidology: Identify and treat complex lipid disorders including, lipodystrophy and post-transplant lipid disorders. 
3. Diabetes in Pregnancy: Treatment and careful monitoring of women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (Type 1, Type 2 and other forms), and newly diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus.

My research focus has been on islet cell transplant, islet cell survival and transplant outcomes, circadian islet gene expression and modulation by various anti-diabetic medications.

What drew you to UW–Madison and the Department of Medicine?    
UW is one of the largest transplant centers in the country which is the primary reason I wanted to come here. There is so much potential to grow and develop an expertise on due to wide array of patient population it serves. 

What are you most excited about during your first year with the department in this role?    
To establish a comprehensive multi-disciplinary transplant endocrinology clinic in collaboration with our transplant medicine team and to establish endocrine-lipid clinic in collaboration with our preventative cardiology team.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?   
Spending time with my dog and my friends. I enjoy cooking and trying out new food. I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking and water sports.