Story by: David Steen Martin on November 13, 2023
As the daughter of a pediatrician, Megan B. Coriell, M.D., was drawn to medicine from an early age.
One of the country’s top-ranked pediatric endocrinology programs, treating kids with diabetes, thyroid disorders and other endocrine conditions.
“I grew up around medicine,” said Dr. Coriell, a Louisville native. “I watched the relationships my mom made with patients and their families and saw how much she loved her job.”
When the future Dr. Coriell started as a student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, she knew she wanted to care for children, but she decided to forge her own path. Rather than follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a pediatrician, she chose pediatric endocrinology.
“When I was learning about the different systems in the body, endocrinology really spoke to me, and I kept being drawn back to it,” Dr. Coriell said.
Dr. Coriell started with Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute and Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, in September. She takes care of children with diabetes, thyroid disorders, bone disorders, puberty concerns and growth concerns.
“Endocrinology is like a big puzzle. It is very engaging and interesting. It keeps me on my toes,” Dr. Coriell said.
She also likes the continuity of care that comes with the job, seeing the same patients over time. For example, she sees her patients with diabetes every three months and gets to know them and their families well.
According to Dr. Coriell, success in her job is making a child’s illness fit their life.
“This is especially important for kids with diabetes. Diabetes does not define them,” Dr. Coriell said. “It is a part of them, but it is only one small part. We want them to achieve their dreams and goals, and we will work to make diabetes fit their life. If they want to do sports, we will make diabetes fit that goal. If they want to be an artist, we will make diabetes fit that goal. We want them to be normal kids who have a few extra things to think about each day.”
After medical school, Dr. Coriell did her training in pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta. She then returned to the University of Louisville School of Medicine as a fellow in pediatric endocrinology. When her fellowship ended, she decided to join Norton Children’s Endocrinology, where she had been working as a fellow.
“The biggest factor for me was the people here. We really have a team approach to patient care,” Dr. Coriell said. “Everyone just works really well together.”
According to Dr. Coriell, this teamwork is a big reason Norton Children’s Hospital is ranked 23rd nationally for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology care by U.S. News & World Report.
When she is not working, Dr. Coriell likes spending time with family; she has 4-year-old and 1-year-old daughters. She also likes doing DIY crafting projects like painting and cross-stitch.