Meet the Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Team

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital consists of board certified pediatric endocrinologists and a multi-specialty trained pediatric staff (certified diabetes nurse educator, registered dietitian, child life specialist, pharmacist, social worker and psychologist). Together they treat diabetes in children with a tailored program that fits the needs of the child and family and promotes the outcomes desired of the medical team.

The division is supported by a full-service on-site laboratory and outpatient center for your convenience.

Carolina Maria De Almagro, APRN

Pediatric Endocrinology

Primary Office: Miami

Clinical Interests: Short stature, thyroid disorders, diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and obesity


Elisa Nicole Echevarria, APRN

Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Practitioner

Primary Office: Miami


Jacquelyn Suzanne Verme, APRN

Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Practitioner

Primary Office: Miami


Roberta M Zbar, APRN

Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse Practitioner

Primary Office: Palm Beach Gardens


Alejandro Diaz, MD

Chief, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology
Director, Division of Endocrinology

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Office: West Kendall

Clinical Interests: Management of children with conditions affecting the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, thyroid cancer, abnormal growth, early or late pubertal development, adrenal disorders, disorders of sex development and diabetes.


Adriana Carrillo Iregui, MD

Medical Director, Diabetes Program

Primary Office: Miami

Clinical Interests: Obesity, metabolic disorders, PCOS, type 2 diabetes and thyroid cancer


Omar Beckett, DO

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Offices: West Kendall, Weston

Clinical Interests: Obesity and neonatal hypoglycemia


Carmen L Bustamante Escobar, MD

Director, Obesity Program
Director, Thyroid Cancer Program

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Office: Pinecrest

Clinical Interests: Turner syndrome, disorders of sex development (DSD), childhood obesity, pediatric thyroid conditions and thyroid cancer


Luis E Gonzalez-Mendoza, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Office: Pinecrest

Clinical Interests: Diabetes


Andrea Granados, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Offices: Pinecrest, Weston

Clinical Interests: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD)


Juan D Mejia Otero, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Boynton Beach

Clinical Interests: Puberty disorders, adrenal disorders and bone disease


Pedro A Pagan Banchs, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Miami

Clinical Interests: Pituitary disorders, bone mineral disorders, endocrine late effects of cancer treatment and diabetes.


Joshua W Tarkoff, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Miami

Additional Office: West Kendall

Clinical Interests: endocrine disorders, obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, puberty and growth disorders.


Jonanlis Ramirez Alcantara, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Primary Office: Palm Beach Gardens

Additional Office: Palm City

Clinical Interests: Obesity, thyroid disorders, adrenal insufficiency, growth disorders and diabetes


See all Pediatric Endocrinology doctors on the Nicklaus Children's Hospital medical staff.

Patient Navigator

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Amada Rico, BSN, RN

Patient Navigator, Diabetes

Amada Rico is a diabetes patient navigator within Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Division of Endocrinology. She completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Nova Southeastern University. She began her nursing career at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Ms. Rico later transitioned to case management, managing discharge planning for complex patients in the PICU.

As a diabetes patient navigator for the Division of Endocrinology, Ms. Rico provides education to patients and families of newly diagnosed Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Amada is passionate about patient education and providing support to families.

Call the Patient Navigator: 786-624-3241


 A clinician identified with a Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists logo is an affiliate of Nicklaus Children's Health System. All other clinicians listed on the website are in independent medical practices.