Diana Amaya-Hellman, MD, FAAP

Diana Stella Amaya Hellman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician with fellowship training in Endocrinology. She completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at Juan N. Corpas School of Medicine in Bogotá, Colombia, and her residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She completed her fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City.

With an extensive background in Pediatrics, Dr. Hellmann has worked at such well-known healthcare entities as Legacy Health Community Services. Before joining Kelsey Seybold in July 2022, Dr. Hellman cared for patients at West Houston Pediatrics and Endocrinology Specialists.

She has made numerous presentations and conducted several research projects on Pediatrics and Endocrinology throughout her career. In addition, Dr. Hellman has been involved in several quality improvement projects to help advance care and improve healthcare outcomes for the pediatric population.

Awards & Publications

Awards

• Recipient of the Rising Star Award
  Serum miRNA-155 as a biomarker of NAFLD in children
  Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES)
  March 2019

Publications and Presentations

• Oral presentation to the NICU department: Evaluation and management of persistent hypoglycemia in infants – April 2019
• OU – Journal Clubs (2017 – 2020)
  • Obesity – Insulin resistance and de novo lipogenesis in adolescents
  • Obesity – Bone health and lifestyle intervention
  • Bone – Osteogenesis imperfecta and genetics
  • Endocrine complications in childhood cancer survivors Type 2 DM – Liraglutide therapy in children and adolescents with Type 2 diabetes
  • Short Stature – C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Analogue Therapy in children with achondroplasia
  • Short Stature – Aromatase inhibitors and short stature
• OU – Case Conferences (2017 – 2020)
  • Laron syndrome
  • Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with Type 2 diabetes: 4H Leukodystrophy
  • Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
  • Diabetes mellitus and positive genetic MTHFR Mutation
  • Patient with PROP 1 mutation, GH and thyroid hormone deficiency
• OU – Board Review – Presentations (2017-2020)
  • Disorders of bone mineralization
  • Growth hormone
  • Endocrine manifestations of chronic illness
  • Disorders of growth
  • Delayed puberty
  • Precocious puberty
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • Androgen and estrogen pathology

Conferences

• PESTOLA Conference (2019 – 2020
  A unique case of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with Type 2 diabetes – 4H Leukodystrophy - February 2019
• 13th Annual Departments of Pediatrics Research
  Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism with Type 2 diabetes – 4H Leukodystrophy – March 2019
• HHDC Research and Symposium
  Effect of obesity and exercise training on serum microRNA-122 –130B and -155 in American Indian adolescents (MOVE study) – November 2019
• PESTOLA Conference
  Effect of obesity and exercise training on serum microRNA-122 – 130B and -155 in American Indian adolescents (MOVE study) February 2020
• Pediatric Research Day
  • Serum microRNA-155 as a biomarker of NAFLD in children – (Liver study)
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta – Bone Clinic Quality Improvement Project (QI project)
  • MOVE study – March 2020
• Partners in Quality – (QI project)
  Osteogenesis Imperfecta – Bone Clinic Quality Improvement Project (QI project) – March 2020
• SERUM micro-RNA 155 as a biomarker of NAFLD in children
  Poster presentation to be given at the 2020 Pediatric Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, April 24 – 27, 2020, Fort Worth, TX. Conference canceled. Hormone Research in Pediatrics 2020
• Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infections in patients with Short Bowel Syndrome – A 13-year review at DCH. Infectious Diseases Society of America 47th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA Oct. 29 – Nov. 2009

Research

• SERUM MicroRNA-122 and -192 Are Increased in Adolescents with NAFLD: Potential Role as Biomarkers - Has been selected for a poster presentation at the American Diabetes Association’s Virtual 81st Scientific Sessions, June 25-29, 2021. It will also be published online on the journal Diabetes website.
• Serum microRNA-155 as a biomarker of NAFLD in children Patient recruitment, physical assessment, physiological tests, DEXA scans and Laboratory analysis on serum miRNA in adolescents
• Evaluating microRNA-122 as a biomarker for non-invasive detection of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children
  Patient recruitment, physical assessment, physiological tests, DEXA scans and Laboratory analysis on serum miRNA in adolescents
• Effect of Obesity and Exercise Training on Serum MicroRNA-122, -130b and -155 in American Indian Adolescents Laboratory analysis on serum miRNA in adolescents “MOVE study”
• Impact of Diabetes on Bone Structure and Metabolism in Adolescent and Young Adults Laboratory serum process and recruitment of patients for Bone Study
• Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infections in patients with Short Bowel Syndrome – A 13-year review at DCH. Infectious Diseases Society of America 47th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2009

Quality Improvement Projects

• Osteogenesis Imperfecta – Bone Clinic (2019 – 2020)
  Pediatric Endocrinology Service at OU. Oklahoma City, OK
• Developmental Behavioral Screen Tools Implementation (2014 – 2017)
  Community Health Connection, Tulsa, OK
• Vision Screening in pre-school children (2013 – 2014)
  Legacy Community Health Services, Houston, TX
• Improvement of Influenza Vaccination (2012 – 2013)
  Legacy Community Health Services, Houston, TX

Hobbies & Interests

Dr. Hellman enjoys spending time with family, skiing, and horseback riding.

Fun Facts

The best advice Dr. Hellman has ever received is “It is better to do things right the first time instead of taking shortcuts and having to spend more time repeating it in order to get it right.”

The most exotic place she has visited is Ko Samui, a little island off the coast of Thailand.

Not everyone knows this about Dr. Hellman, but her favorite hobby is English-style horseback riding.

Her guilty pleasure is a full breakfast with her family on Sundays.

Dr. Hellman wanted to be a doctor for as long as she can remember. “I remember thinking that I wanted to ‘take care of babies’ that were sick in the hospital.”