Jeffrey Zigman, M.D., Ph.D.

Jeffrey Zigman, M.D., Ph.D.

  • The Diana and Richard C. Strauss Professorship in Biomedical Research
  • Kent and Jodi Foster Distinguished Chair in Endocrinology, in Honor of Daniel Foster, M.D.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Brookshire Professorship in Medicine
  • Internal Medicine - Endocrinology
  • Parathyroid & Thyroid Conditions

Biography

Jeffrey M. Zigman, M.D., Ph.D., is a tenured Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center with a secondary appointment in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Zigman holds both the Diana and Richard C. Strauss Professorship in Biomedical Research and the Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Brookshire Professorship in Medicine.

An endocrinologist, Dr. Zigman specializes in treating patients with thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. He played an active role in establishing UT Southwestern’s thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer clinic.

A Fellow of the Obesity Society, Dr. Zigman is American Board of Internal Medicine-certified in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.

He also is certified by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in neck ultrasound, thyroid ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. A recognized expert in performing these procedures, he instructs endocrinology trainees at UT Southwestern and other endocrinologists around the world in how to do them.

Dr. Zigman is affiliated with the Division of Hypothalamic Research and the Division of Endocrinology, as well as with the Integrative Biology Graduate Program and the Neuroscience Graduate Program.

His research is aimed at better understanding the neuro-hormonal framework underlying complex eating behaviors, including those linked to stress, depression and blood glucose control.

The Zigman Lab focuses largely on the hormone ghrelin, including mechanisms controlling ghrelin secretion and mechanisms by which the ghrelin system engages feeding, blood glucose-related processes, as well as antidepressant behaviors. The lab also investigates other hormones released by the stomach.

The lab’s researchers study conditions that include obesity, depression, psychosocial stress, diabetes, cachexia, and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Dr. Zigman has published more than 60 scholarly articles and delivered scores of invited lectures nationally and internationally.

He serves as a consulting editor for Molecular Metabolism and as an ad hocreviewer for a number of respected academic journals.

He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2006.

Dr. Zigman earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency at University of Chicago Hospitals and a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

He also holds a doctoral degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Chicago – earned through the university’s M.D.-Ph.D. Program – and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Cornell University.

Meet Dr. Zigman

Thyroid Cancer Specialist in Dallas

Endocrinologist Jeffrey Zigman, M.D., specializes in treating thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and related thyroid disorders.

Offering diagnostic lab work, advanced imaging studies, and the latest evidence-based treatments, Dr. Zigman and the thyroid team at UT Southwestern Medical Center are experts at providing the comprehensive care needed by patients with nodular thyroid disease and thyroid cancer – often in one visit.

Only a small percentage of thyroid nodules are related to thyroid cancer, Dr. Zigman notes, and with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, most types of thyroid cancer do not negatively impact a person’s lifespan – nor do they require chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Board certified and fellowship trained, Dr. Zigman also is specially certified to perform ultrasound studies of the neck and thyroid gland, as well as ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy – diagnostic procedures he is able to perform in the clinic.

He has been named a Top Doctor by both U.S. News & World Report and Castle Connolly.

“From initial evaluation to long-term management, UT Southwestern offers patients with nodular thyroid disease and thyroid cancer everything they need – usually in the same visit – from diagnostic lab and ultrasound studies to the most advanced therapies,” Dr. Zigman says.

“We strive to do everything very efficiently so we disrupt patients’ lives as little as possible.”

Dr. Zigman finds great satisfaction in caring for his patients.

“Endocrinology allows me to use the most up-to-date procedures and technologies to treat my patients,” he says. “And I really enjoy talking with patients – explaining their medical problems and discussing their concerns so they feel at ease with their condition and the diagnostic procedures and treatments it may require.”


See More

Education & Training
  • Fellowship - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2000-2003), Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • Medical School - University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (1993-1997)
  • Residency - University of Chicago Hospitals (1997-2000), Internal Medicine
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (2000)
  • American Diabetes Association (2004)
  • The Obesity Society (2008)
  • The Endocrine Society (2009)
  • American Thyroid Association (2009)
  • American Society for Clinical Investigation (2012)
Honors & Awards
  • Top Doctor 2011, U.S. News & World Report
  • Patricia Usher Memorial Lecture speaker 2014, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
  • Class of 2014 (MS2) Outstanding Teaching Award 2011-2012 2012, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Election as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation 2012, American Society for Clinical Investigation
  • National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program 1989, The University of Chicago
  • Graduation Cum Laude and with distinction in all subjects; Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society from Cornell University 1989, Cornell University
  • UTSW Medical Center Disease Oriented Clinical Scholar 2006, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Class of 2013 (MS1) Outstanding Teaching Award in Physiology 2009-2010 2010, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Class of 2013 (MS2) Outstanding Teaching Award 2010-2011 2011, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Brookshire Professorship in Medicine 2012
  • Diana and Richard C. Strauss Professorship in Biomedical Research 2012
Books & Publications
Research
  • The role of ghrelin in eating behaviors of various types: food intake to survive, eating for pleasure (reward-based eating), eating upon stress
  • Stomach and intestine endocrine (enteroendocrine) cell function
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Neuro-hormonal framework linking complex eating behaviors to mood
  • Ghrelin's role in mood (depression) and stress
  • Ghrelin biosynthesis, ghrelin secretion and ghrelin cell physiology
  • Diabetes and hypoglycemia

Clinical Focus

  • Parathyroid & Thyroid Conditions

See More

Q&A by Dr. Zigman