Dr. Porte is Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and past president of the American Diabetes Association. He has served as an advisor to the National Institute of Heath (NIH) including service on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) council and published extensively over his career. Among his 350+ publications, Dr. Porte is best known for his contributions to our understanding of the regulation of the endocrine pancreas and its role in Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as studies of the importance of hyperglycemia to the neuropathic complications of diabetes.

Dr. Porte’s present interests include the mechanism for the regulation of the alpha cells secretion of glucagon by the central nervous system, in addition to pancreatic beta-cell related hormones and neuropeptides. Further interests extend to the role of insulin in brain function, glucose homeostasis and body weight regulation and the physiology of the incretin hormones in plasma glucose control and diabetes therapy.
Dr. Porte received his M.D. from the University of Chicago Medical School (with Honors) and completed his residency at the VA Hospital and UC San Francisco Moffitt Hospital.