Conor J. Best, M.D.
Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine
In the News
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, US, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 2013-2015 | Clinical Fellowship, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2010-2013 | Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2015 | Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism |
| 2015 | Texas Medical License |
| 2013 | Internal Medicine |
| 2010 | Missouri Medical License |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Clinical Medical Director, Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2018 - Present
Other Professional Positions
Senator, Faculty Senate, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Department Officer, Patient Experience, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present
Department Representative, Medical Records Committee, Houston, TX, 2016 - Present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Subcommittee, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2019
Vice President, Internal Medicine Center Quality Council Committee, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2018
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Alternate, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2025
Member, REACH Executive Comittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Lead of basal/bolus order set working group and insulin pump policy revision, Glycemic Action Team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Member, Insulin Pump Policy Working Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Member, DKA/HHS Algorithm Working Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2013 | Shatz-Strauss Teaching Award, Washington University |
| 2010 | Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2022. Diabetes Technology Update. Conference. Texas Endocrinology Association. Austin, TX, US.
- 2019. Endocrine Complications of Cancer Threapies. Conference. AACE New Jersey, NJ, US.
- 2019. Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Endocrine Disorders. Conference. SPED, PR, US.
- 2017. Endocrine Care of Oncology Patients. Conference. AACE Pacific NW. Seattle, WA, US.
National Presentations
- 2018. Checkpoint Inhibitor-induced Type 1 Diabetes. Invited. ADA 78th Scientific Session. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2017. Endocrine Care of Oncologic Patients. Invited. AACE 26th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress. Austin, TX, US.
- 2015. Sitagliptin Reduces Markers of Inflammation and Chronic Immune Cell Activation in HIV+ Adults with Glucose Intolerance. Conference. Endocrine Society 97th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, US.
International Presentations
- 2014. DPP4 Inhabitation (sitagliptin) Reduces Inflammatory Chemokine and Immune Activation Markers in HIV+ Adults with or without Glucose Intolerance. Conference. 16th International Workshop on Co-morbidities and Adverse Drug Reactions in HIV. Philadelphia, US.
Formal Peers
- 2015. Endocrine Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents. Invited. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2014. Alopecia and Endocrine Disorders. Invited. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2014. An Adrenal Incidentaloma: A Case of Concurrent GIST and Pheochromocytoma in a Patient with Unrecognized NF-1. Invited. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2013. An Interesting Finding During a Diabetes Consult: a Case of a Prolactin and GH Co-Secreting Adenoma. Invited. St. Louis, MO, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2021 - 2025 |
| Title: | PET Imaging of ROS Burst in Immune Adverse Events: First-in-Human Evaluation |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | OSC |
| ID: | PA-20-183 |
| Date: | 2015 - 2015 |
| Title: | Methods to Reduce Readmission of Previously Identified High Risk Patients with Diabetes |
| Funding Source: | Sponsor required |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2014 - 2015 |
| Title: | Metabolic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Sitagliptin in HIV Positive Patients with Glucose Intolerance |
| Funding Source: | Sponsor required |
| Role: | Trainee |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Gandhi A, Jeun R, Wang Z, Khan S, Best CJ, Lavis VR, Thosani S. Etiologies and Outcomes of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Cancer Patients. Cancers 17(17), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40940823.
- Taylor JS, Fellman B, Cain K, Iniesta-Donate M, Earles T, Harris M, James DA, Siebel C, Lasala J, Mena GE, Raty S, Popovich SM, Vu KD, Thosani S, Best CJ, Schmeler KM, Ramirez PT, Meyer LA. Glycemic control to improve post-operative outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 35(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39878292.
- Taylor JS, Fellman B, Raty S, Lasala J, Iniesta MD, Cain K, Horner AA, Bruno M, Folloder J, Knippel SL, Khanh V, Popovich SM, Katz MH, Best CJ, Thosani S. Detection and Management of Perioperative Hyperglycemia at a Tertiary Cancer Center. Annals of surgical oncology 31(5):3017-3023, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38347330.
- Jeun R, Iyer PC, Best CJ, Lavis VR, Varghese J, Yedururi S, Brady VJ, Glitza IC, Dadu R, Milton D, Brock K, Thosani S. Clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor diabetes mellitus at a comprehensive cancer center. Immunotherapy 15(6):417-428, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37013834.
- Best CJ, Struthers H, Laciny E, et al. Sitagliptin Reduces Marks of Inflammation and Chronic Immune Cell Activation in HIV+ Adults with Glucose Intolerance. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 100(7):2621-2629, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
Invited Articles
- Jozaghi Y, Zafereo ME, Perrier ND, Wang JR, Grubbs E, Gross ND, Fisher S, Sturgis EM, Goephert RP, Lai SY, Best C, Busaidy NL, Cabanillas ME, Dadu R, Gagel RF, Habra MA, Hu MI, Jimenez C, Sherman SI, Thosani S, Varghese J, Waguespack SG, Weizman S, Ying AK, Graham PH. Endocrine surgery in the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Surgical Triage Guidelines. Head & Neck 42(6):1325-1328, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32437031.
- Best CJ, Thosani S, Ortiz M, et al. Co-managing Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Cancer. Current Diabetes Reports 16(8):73, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27319323.
- Clark AL, Best CJ, Fisher SJ. Even Silent Hypoglycemia Induces Cardiac Arrthymias. Diabetes 63(5):1457-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24757198.
Review Articles
- Iyer PC, Kikani NJ, Khan S, Chaudhari A, Pagnotti GM, Best CJ, Weitzman SP, Mehta PB, Lavis VR, Thosani S, Gandhi A, Aguirre RS, Varghese J, Guise TA, Dadu R. The evolving management of endocrine disorders induced by checkpoint inhibitors. Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism 21(1):29-41, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41307239.
Other Articles
- Best CJ, Carmichael K Diabetes Q&A: When Should I Start Insulin. Consultant Magazine 54(10):798-799, 2014.
- Best CJ, Carmichael K Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia - Identification, Troubleshooting, and Precautions. Consultant Magazine, 2014.
Abstracts
- Jeun R, Yedururi S, Lavis V, Best C, Varghese J, Dadu R, Glitza IC, Thosani S. Pancreatic volumes in immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes. Journal of Clinical Oncology 39(15 suppl), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Taylor J, Cain K, Earles T, Harris M, James D, Hubbs C, Dotino J, Stewart KI, McGrew L, Siebel C, Enbaya A, Iniesta M, Vachhani S, Lasala J, Thosani S, Best C, Sahai SK, Schmeler KM, Ramirez PT, Meyer L. Surgical Universal euGlycemic Attainment during Recovery (SUGAR) Initiative. Journal of Clinical Oncology 36(30 suppl), 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Iyer P, Best CJ, Lavis VR, et al. Checkpoint Inhibitor Mediated Insulin Dependent Diabetes: A Cancer Center Experience Oral Presentation. Endocrine Society, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Ortiz M, Best CJ. Acute Onset of Type 1 Diabetes in a Man with a partial Pancreatectomy after anti-PDL-1 Immunotherapy Poster Presentation. American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Best CJ, Struthers H, Laciny, et al. Sitagliptin Reduces Markers of Inflammation and Chronic Immune Cell Activation in HIV+ Adults with Glucose Intolerance Poster Presentation. Endocrine Society's 97th Annual Meeting, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25938633.
- Yarasheski KE, Reeds DN, Best CJ, Laciny E, Struthers H, Royal M. DPP4 Inhabitation (sitagliptin) Reduces Inflammatory Chemokine and Immune Activation Markers in HIV+ Adults with or without Glucose Intolerance. 16th International Workshop on Co-morbidities and Adverse Drug Reactions in HIV, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
Book Chapters
- Lee IA, Takigawa K, Best CJ. Worsening Hyperglycemia During Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy, 63-67, 2025.
- Patel J, Best CJ. Graves’ Disease After Prolonged Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy, 57-61, 2025.
- Varghese J, Best CJ. Managing Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. In: Managing Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. Springer, Cham, 59-79, 2022.
- Varghese J, Best C. Endocrine. In: Managing Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. Springer, 59-81, 2022.
- Best CJ, Sterl K. Endocrine Effects of Oncology Drugs. In: Washington Manual Subspecialty Consults: Endocrinology. 4th, 2019.
Books (edited and written)
- Wang Y, Varghese J, Best C. Managing Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities: A Practical Guide, 2022.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 31, 2026