Lina Paola Huerta Saenz MD FAAP (She/Her)

Pediatric Diabetes Endocrinology

Pediatric Endocrinologist/ Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital/Penn State College of Medicine/ Physician-Scientist/Principal Investigator

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35 Hope DrHershey, PA 17033
Phone+1 717-531-8550

Summary

Dr. Huerta-Saenz currently works as a pediatric endocrinologist and physician-scientist at the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric endocrinology and Diabetes at Penn State Children's Hospital/Penn State College of Medicine. She is currently working on clinical/translational research in pediatric Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Her current clinical trial is testing the role of novel nutrition therapies to improve nutrition status, glycemic metrics and promote residual beta cell function in children with early diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes.

Education & Training

Pennsylvania State UniversityNA, NUTR 810, 2022 - 2022
Children’s Mercy HospitalFellowship, Pediatric Endocrinology, 2011 - 2014
Jefferson Health Medical Education/Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia HospitalResidency, Pediatrics, 2008 - 2011
Pontificia Universidad Catolica Del PeruDiploma, Applied Statistics, 2004 - 2005
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San MarcosMedical School, Medicine, 1995 - 2002
National University of San MarcosClass of 2002, Physician - Surgeon

Certifications & Licensure

PA State Medical License 2018 - 2026
KS State Medical License 2014 - 2018
MO State Medical License 2011 - 2018
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Editorial member Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism- Case Reports, 2025
Selected Scholar WIN ADA American Diabetes Association, 2025
Pediatric Research Day - Health Equity Research Award Penn State Health, 2023
Selected Member of PRIDE CVD-GE Program NHLBI
Member of the Parents Panel of the AAP American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018
Health Care Hero Award - Health Care Innovations: Director of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program (Children's Mercy - Wichita Clinic) Wichita Business Journal, 2017
Great Catch Award Children's Mercy Hospital, 2016
Helmsley Charitable Trust Award for Outstanding Research in Type 1 Diabetes Endocrine Society, 2014
Trainee Travel Award Turner Syndrome Society of the United States- TRN, 2014
Residency Research Competition (3rd. Prize - Award Winner) Albert Einstein Medical Center, 2010
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Clinical Trials

Diabetes Study of Linagliptin and Empagliflozin in Children and Adolescents (DINAMO)TM Start of enrollment: 2018 Mar 20
Completed
Phase 3
A 12-week Pilot Nutrition Intervention for Children With New Diagnosis of Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Start of enrollment: 2024 Nov 20
RECRUITING
NA

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Challenges in Promoting Physical Activity for Managing MASLD in Canadian Children: Insights and Barriers.
Mohit Kehar, Lina Huerta-Saenz, Jamie Strain, Sierra Kawesa, Jenna Yaraskavitch
Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2025-04-01
1 citations
A Novel Variant inPresenting as 46,XY Difference of Sex Development.
Yunting Yu, Peter A Lee, Lina Huerta-Saenz, Natalie G Allen
JCEM Case Reports. 2023-09-01
35 citations
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic is Associated with a Substantial Rise in Frequency and Severity of Presentation of Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes.
Sheela N Magge, Risa M Wolf, Laura Pyle, Elizabeth A Brown, Valeria C Benavides
The Journal of Pediatrics. 2022-12-01

Journal Articles

Challenging diagnosis of congenital hyperinsulinism in two infants of diabetic mothers with rare pathogenic KCNJ11 and HNF4A gene variants.
Huerta-Saenz, International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology, 7/17/2018

Press Mentions

Viva La Endocrinologia! Celebrating Hispanic Heritage MonthOctober 15th, 2023

Grant Support

KL2 ESI AwardPennsylvania State University2022–2025
CMN Research AwardChildren’s Miracle Network2020–2022

Committees

Member, Pediatric Endocrine Society - Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force 2021 - Present
member, Pediatric Endocrine Society - Training Council 2014 - 2019

Research History

Efficacy and safety of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin versus placebo and the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin versus placebo in young people with type 2 diabetes (DINAMO): a mulPrincipal investigator, Site: Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA2019 - 2022
Sub-Investigator for Trial Net-Pathway to Prevention Study (TN01)Sub-Investigator at the Children's Mercy Hospital (PI: Dr. Wayne Moore)2014 - 2018
Principal InvestigatorNutrition, Healthy Eating and Type 1 Diabetes Knowledge in Children and Youths with Type 1 Diabetes measured by the NCQ22013 - 2018