A Few Minutes With…Zainab Mohamed, Paediatric Endocrinologist
We spent a few minutes with Zainab Mohamed, Paediatric Endocrinologist, to find out more about her role.
In a nutshell, what does your job entail?
I am a paediatric endocrinologist caring for children with a wide range of endocrine disorders, including rare conditions and diabetes. My role also involves managing children with late endocrine effects following treatment for brain tumours, as well as supporting those with disorders of sex development (DSD). I lead regional referrals for DSD and work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, including Dr Saraff, to provide coordinated, specialist care for children with neuroendocrine late effects.
In addition, I am the clinical lead for the department, where I support service development and delivery. Through my involvement in rare disease research, I serve as the local Principal Investigator for the RHYTHM hypothalamic obesity (HO) trial at BWCH, contributing to international efforts to improve understanding and treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity in children, and helping to bring emerging therapies to those affected by this challenging condition
What achievement are you most proud of (so far)?
I am most proud of contributing to the development and delivery of specialised multidisciplinary care for children with complex endocrine conditions. I have also been actively involved in charity work supporting survivors of brain tumours, which has been particularly meaningful to me.
I take great pride in contributing to research and clinical trials focused on hypothalamic obesity, helping to bring new insights and hope for children affected by this challenging condition and its associated morbidities. In addition, I developed educational animation resources for children with disorders of sex development (DSD), designed to help them better understand their condition in an accessible and child-friendly way.
I am deeply motivated to continue working in areas such as DSD and the long-term follow-up of children treated for brain tumours, where collaborative, multidisciplinary care can make a significant difference to outcomes and quality of life.
Why did you choose your career? Who would you say was your inspiration?
I chose paediatric endocrinology because it combines complex physiology with the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients and their families. It allows me to support children through challenging diagnoses while making a meaningful difference over time. I have been inspired by mentors and colleagues who demonstrate excellence in caring for children with complex and rare endocrine conditions. Their commitment to patient-centred, compassionate care and continuous improvement in clinical practice has strongly influenced my own approach.
My late mentor, Professor Mark Dunne, was a significant source of inspiration. His guidance and dedication played an important role in shaping my decision to pursue endocrinology as a career, and his influence continues to motivate me to strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children with rare conditions.
If there was one thing you could change in the world, what would it be?
I would improve equity of access to specialised healthcare, ensuring that all children particularly those with rare or complex endocrine conditions can access timely, multidisciplinary, expert care regardless of where they live. This is especially important for children requiring long-term follow-up after brain tumours and those with disorders of sex development.
I am particularly motivated by the opportunity to support children and families affected by severe obesity and hypothalamic obesity, many of whom may have felt that there were limited options available. Through involvement in clinical trials and access to emerging therapies, I have seen how coordinated specialist care can offer renewed hope and lead to meaningful improvements in health and quality of life.
Describe yourself in three words.
Compassionate, collaborative, and driven.
Finally, not a lot of people know this about me but…
I have a deep passion for caring for children beyond my clinical work. I run a charity supporting disabled children in India, which allows me to give back meaningfully to the community I come from. I also engage with a wider community by speaking six colloquial Indian languages, which helps me connect with families in their own dialect and build more personal, trusting relationships.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and spending quality time socialising with friends and family. I find it very rewarding to mentor school-aged children and support their educational and personal development. Travel is another passion of mine, and I enjoy exploring new places with my loving husband and children, making the most of our time together as a family.