BIOGRAPHY
Bruce Ettinger, MD
Senior Investigator (Emeritus), Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Clinical Professor of Medicine and Radiology (Emeritus), University of California San Francisco
Education & Training
Columbia College, New York, NY. Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts), 1956-1960 (Cum Laude)
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Doctor of Medicine, 1960-1964 (Cum Laude)
Harvard Medical Service (II and IV) Boston City Hospital, Boston, MA. Internship/Residency (Internal Medicine), 1964-1966
University of California San Francisco (Metabolic Research Unit), San Francisco, CA. Fellowship (Endocrinology and Metabolism), 1968-1971
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Doctor of Medicine, 1960-1964 (Cum Laude)
Harvard Medical Service (II and IV) Boston City Hospital, Boston, MA. Internship/Residency (Internal Medicine), 1964-1966
University of California San Francisco (Metabolic Research Unit), San Francisco, CA. Fellowship (Endocrinology and Metabolism), 1968-1971
Positions, Employment, and Professional Leadership Service
1966-1968 Captain, Camp Zama Army Base, Kanagawa, Japan
1968-1970 Fellow, Metabolic Research Unit, University of California San Francisco
1968-1970 Physician, The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG)
1970-2003 Senior Physician, Medicine and Endocrinoloy, TPMG, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
1973-1976 Chair, Patient Services Committee, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
1974-1986 Assistant & Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Univ. of California San Francisco
1974-2003 Chief of Endocrinology, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center
1980-2003 Chair of the Endocrine Chiefs of Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1985-2003 Medical Liaison to Regional Laboratory, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1986-2003 Clinical Professor of Medicine and Radiology, University of California San Francisco
1988-1989 President, International Bone Densitometry Workshop
1990-2003 Senior Investigator, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1992-2003 Chief, Bone Densitometry Services, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1996-1997 President, North American Menopause Society
2003-2020 Clinical Professor of Medicine (Emeritus), University of California San Francisco
2003-2020 Adjunct Investigator (Emeritus), Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1968-1970 Fellow, Metabolic Research Unit, University of California San Francisco
1968-1970 Physician, The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG)
1970-2003 Senior Physician, Medicine and Endocrinoloy, TPMG, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
1973-1976 Chair, Patient Services Committee, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
1974-1986 Assistant & Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Univ. of California San Francisco
1974-2003 Chief of Endocrinology, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center
1980-2003 Chair of the Endocrine Chiefs of Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1985-2003 Medical Liaison to Regional Laboratory, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1986-2003 Clinical Professor of Medicine and Radiology, University of California San Francisco
1988-1989 President, International Bone Densitometry Workshop
1990-2003 Senior Investigator, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1992-2003 Chief, Bone Densitometry Services, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
1996-1997 President, North American Menopause Society
2003-2020 Clinical Professor of Medicine (Emeritus), University of California San Francisco
2003-2020 Adjunct Investigator (Emeritus), Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Professional Memberships
The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Emeritus and Charter Member
The North American Menopause Society, Emeritus Member and Past President
The Endocrine Society, Emeritus Member
The North American Menopause Society, Emeritus Member and Past President
The Endocrine Society, Emeritus Member
Patents
Cummings SR, Ettinger B, Ellman H, Inventors; Regents of the University of California, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, The Permanente Medical Group, Berlex Laboratories, Assignees. Methods for treating postmenopausal women using ultra-low doses of estrogen. U.S. Patent 6,692,763. February 17, 2004.
Personal Summary
Bruce Ettinger, MD was Senior Investigator (Emeritus) at the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) and Clinical Professor (Emeritus) of Medicine and Radiology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
A graduate of Columbia College (A.B. Liberal Arts: cum laude) and Harvard Medical School (M.D. cum laude), Dr. Ettinger completed his Internal Medicine residency at the II & IV (Harvard) Medical Service, Boston City Hospital. Following a fellowship in Endocrinology at the UCSF Metabolic Research Unit, Dr. Ettinger joined The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in 1970 as a Senior Physician in Endocrinology and Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center. Throughout this tenure, he served in multiple leadership positions: Chair of Patient Rights Committee, TPMG 1970s; Regional Chair of Chiefs of Endocrinology, TPMG 1980-2003; Medical Liaison for the Regional Laboratory Services, KPNC 1985-2003; and Regional Chief of Densitometry Services, KPNC 1992-2003. As founding Chair of Endocrinology for KPNC and to many “The Father of TPMG Endocrinology”, he mentored countless TPMG residents, physicians, and researchers during his nearly 50-year career. His expertise in providing clear explanations that reassured patients navigating an uncertain medical diagnosis was remarkable. He is especially remembered for his curiosity, clinical insights, kindness, collegiality, and generosity of time.
As a Senior Investigator at the KPNC Division of Research 1990-2003, Dr. Ettinger spearheaded highly impactful research in women’s health related to menopause, osteoporosis, and fractures. His primary areas of research focused on kidney stones, osteoporosis epidemiology, fracture risk prediction, menopause management, and prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. In addition to “stones and bones,” he was most proud of his women’s health research portfolio, which focused on efficacy and safety studies. Collaborating with scientists both nationally and internationally, he designed, planned, and executed both epidemiologic studies and clinical trials to identify acceptable, effective treatments for women’s menopause management and osteoporosis prevention. In 1996-1997, Dr. Ettinger served as President of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). In addition to several awards from NAMS for his work advancing postmenopausal health, the journal Menopause selected three of Dr. Ettinger’s papers (1996,(1,2) 1997,(3,4) 2012,(5,6)) for its 25th Anniversary Commemorative Issue highlighting the most impactful paper from each of its 25 years of publication.(7)
Between 2000-2008, Dr. Ettinger served on an advisory committee for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to develop quality measures for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment. These became the HEDIS measures that continue to serve as a benchmark for healthcare delivery systems nationally. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force invited Dr. Ettinger to review their guidelines for screening to prevent osteoporotic fractures. In 2008-2009, Dr. Ettinger initiated an important update of the U.S. fracture incidence rates; with the approval of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, this updated data became the revised reference standard used by the U.S. FRAX® tool.(8) In 2009, he served as an expert reviewer for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) scientific statement on the comparative effectiveness of treatments to prevent fractures in men and women with low bone density or osteoporosis. In his final decade as Senior Investigator Emeritus at the KPNC Division of Research, Dr. Ettinger advanced our understanding of atypical femur fractures and provided mentorship to the next generation of KPNC researchers, particularly Joan Lo, whom he entrusted to carry on his work in fracture risk assessment and with whom he partnered in new research examining ethnic differences in skeletal health.
A graduate of Columbia College (A.B. Liberal Arts: cum laude) and Harvard Medical School (M.D. cum laude), Dr. Ettinger completed his Internal Medicine residency at the II & IV (Harvard) Medical Service, Boston City Hospital. Following a fellowship in Endocrinology at the UCSF Metabolic Research Unit, Dr. Ettinger joined The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in 1970 as a Senior Physician in Endocrinology and Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center. Throughout this tenure, he served in multiple leadership positions: Chair of Patient Rights Committee, TPMG 1970s; Regional Chair of Chiefs of Endocrinology, TPMG 1980-2003; Medical Liaison for the Regional Laboratory Services, KPNC 1985-2003; and Regional Chief of Densitometry Services, KPNC 1992-2003. As founding Chair of Endocrinology for KPNC and to many “The Father of TPMG Endocrinology”, he mentored countless TPMG residents, physicians, and researchers during his nearly 50-year career. His expertise in providing clear explanations that reassured patients navigating an uncertain medical diagnosis was remarkable. He is especially remembered for his curiosity, clinical insights, kindness, collegiality, and generosity of time.
As a Senior Investigator at the KPNC Division of Research 1990-2003, Dr. Ettinger spearheaded highly impactful research in women’s health related to menopause, osteoporosis, and fractures. His primary areas of research focused on kidney stones, osteoporosis epidemiology, fracture risk prediction, menopause management, and prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. In addition to “stones and bones,” he was most proud of his women’s health research portfolio, which focused on efficacy and safety studies. Collaborating with scientists both nationally and internationally, he designed, planned, and executed both epidemiologic studies and clinical trials to identify acceptable, effective treatments for women’s menopause management and osteoporosis prevention. In 1996-1997, Dr. Ettinger served as President of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). In addition to several awards from NAMS for his work advancing postmenopausal health, the journal Menopause selected three of Dr. Ettinger’s papers (1996,(1,2) 1997,(3,4) 2012,(5,6)) for its 25th Anniversary Commemorative Issue highlighting the most impactful paper from each of its 25 years of publication.(7)
Between 2000-2008, Dr. Ettinger served on an advisory committee for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to develop quality measures for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment. These became the HEDIS measures that continue to serve as a benchmark for healthcare delivery systems nationally. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force invited Dr. Ettinger to review their guidelines for screening to prevent osteoporotic fractures. In 2008-2009, Dr. Ettinger initiated an important update of the U.S. fracture incidence rates; with the approval of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, this updated data became the revised reference standard used by the U.S. FRAX® tool.(8) In 2009, he served as an expert reviewer for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) scientific statement on the comparative effectiveness of treatments to prevent fractures in men and women with low bone density or osteoporosis. In his final decade as Senior Investigator Emeritus at the KPNC Division of Research, Dr. Ettinger advanced our understanding of atypical femur fractures and provided mentorship to the next generation of KPNC researchers, particularly Joan Lo, whom he entrusted to carry on his work in fracture risk assessment and with whom he partnered in new research examining ethnic differences in skeletal health.
References
1. Ettinger B, Li DK, Klein R. Continuation of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: comparison of cyclic versus continuous combined schedules. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1187-1190.
2. Ettinger B, Li DK, Klein R. Continuation of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: Comparison of cyclic versus continuous combined schedules. Menopause. 1996;3(4):185-189.
3. Ettinger B, Quesenberry C, Schroeder DA, Friedman G. Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer: A cohort study. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1191-1194.
4. Ettinger B, Quesenberry C, Schroeder DA, Friedman G. Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer: A cohort study. Menopause. 1997;4(3):125-129.
5. Ettinger B, Wang SM, Leslie RS, Patel BV, Boulware MJ, Mann ME, McBride M. Evolution of postmenopausal hormone therapy between 2002 and 2009. Menopause. 2012;19(6):610-615.
6. Ettinger B, Wang SM, Leslie RS, Patel BV, Boulware MJ, Mann ME, McBride M. Evolution of postmenopausal hormone therapy between 2002 and 2009. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1306-1312.
7. Menopause 25th Anniversary Commemorative Issue. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1171.
8. Ettinger B, Black DM, Dawson-Hughes B, Pressman AR, Melton LJ, 3rd. Updated fracture incidence rates for the US version of FRAX. Osteoporos Int. 2010;21(1):25-33.
2. Ettinger B, Li DK, Klein R. Continuation of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: Comparison of cyclic versus continuous combined schedules. Menopause. 1996;3(4):185-189.
3. Ettinger B, Quesenberry C, Schroeder DA, Friedman G. Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer: A cohort study. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1191-1194.
4. Ettinger B, Quesenberry C, Schroeder DA, Friedman G. Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer: A cohort study. Menopause. 1997;4(3):125-129.
5. Ettinger B, Wang SM, Leslie RS, Patel BV, Boulware MJ, Mann ME, McBride M. Evolution of postmenopausal hormone therapy between 2002 and 2009. Menopause. 2012;19(6):610-615.
6. Ettinger B, Wang SM, Leslie RS, Patel BV, Boulware MJ, Mann ME, McBride M. Evolution of postmenopausal hormone therapy between 2002 and 2009. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1306-1312.
7. Menopause 25th Anniversary Commemorative Issue. Menopause. 2018;25(11):1171.
8. Ettinger B, Black DM, Dawson-Hughes B, Pressman AR, Melton LJ, 3rd. Updated fracture incidence rates for the US version of FRAX. Osteoporos Int. 2010;21(1):25-33.
We would like to thank Joan Lo, MD for her extraordinary effort to help us prepare this updated CV.