Kate Steinbeck

Professor Katharine (Kate) Steinbeck is an endocrinologist and adolescent medicine physician. She is the inaugural Medical Foundation Chair in Adolescent Medicine at the University of Sydney..

Trained in endocrinology, Kate Steinbeck developed a dual career pathway that included adolescent medicine and has extensive experience in managing adolescents with disorders of puberty, and chronic conditions including diabetes and obesity, and long term endocrine effects in childhood cancer survivors.

She leads a research team with a focus on the true effects of puberty hormones on adolescent health, wellbeing and behaviour; chronic illness and the transition from paediatric to adult health care; and adolescent and young adult metabolic health. She works to further translation of adolescent research findings into clinical practice, to promote youth health issues, especially in those who are maginalised, and to educate and support doctors who treat young people.

Kate Steinbeck advocates for youth through engagement with teacher groups, NGOs, professional organisations and the media. She notes, “adolescent medicine is a challenging specialty area , which doesn’t fit neatly into paediatrics or adult medicine. It is a time when health trajectories are established for life, but where health needs are poorly understood. Adolescents’ propensity for risk behaviours against a background of a still-developing brain, demand the creation of safe environments while supporting emerging autonomy”.

Kate Steinbeck’s research has made major contributions to clinical practice and policy. She is Co-Chair of the Sydney Medical School's Lifespan Network at the the University of Sydney and chairs the Royal Australasian College of Physician's Advanced Training Committee for Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine.