Robert Ratner, M.D.

Robert E. Ratner, M.D., was Vice President for Scientific Affairs for the MedStar Research Institute in Washington, DC, and Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical School at the time he began his RWJ Fellowship in 2008. He received his M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he also completed his internal medicine training. His fellowship training in endocrinology and metabolism was completed at Harvard Medical School and the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

Ratner was a principal investigator for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and DPP Outcomes Study of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and served on the planning and steering committees for the project nationwide. He chaired the Cardiovascular Working Group and the Outcomes Adjudication Committee and cochaired the Economic Analysis Committee of the DPP. He was also principal investigator of the SANDS (Stop Atherosclerosis Among Natives with Diabetes) Study of NIH. He served on the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. His other research interests include diabetes and its complications and innovative therapies for diabetes, including in vivo islet neogenesis.

As a Fellow, he served 2 unique placements. The first was at the Institute of Medicine where he served as Study Coordinator for the Congressionally mandated Study on Comparative Effectiveness. After completing that task and publishing the final document, he served as a fellow in the Office of Management and Budget. There, his task included analysis and comparisons of the three competing bills in the House and Senate addressing health reform. The Senate Finance version ultimately became the Affordable Care Act.

After completing the fellowship, he returned to his research at the MedStar Research Institute for a year. At that time, he became Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the American Diabetes Association. There, he oversaw the $60 million research effort, the publication of the pre-eminent diabetes journals, the continuing education efforts and the annual publication of the Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. He served in this capacity for 5 years.

After his resignation, he became Chief Medical Officer for Virta Health, a telehealth startup providing care for people with obesity, pre diabetes and diabetes. He served for two years, undertaking research projects in underserved rural areas, with the Veteran’s Administration, and completing a 5 year prospective study. Now, he serves as a consultant, including on the Diabetes Expert Panel for NCQA.

He is the author of over 120 original scientific articles and 16 book chapters. Dr. Ratner served on the steering committee of the National Diabetes Education Program and the board of directors of the National Certification Board for Diabetes Education and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. He has also served as chair of the Government Relations Committee and the Pregnancy Council of the American Diabetes Association.