Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD

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Get to know Endocrinologist Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, who serves patients in New York, New York.

Dr. Salas-Whalen is a triple board-certified physician with broad experience across all facets of endocrinology, with a particular emphasis on obesity, diabetes, and thyroid disorders. Her passion for medicine and her patients’ wellness fuels the results-driven approach to her practice at New York Endocrinology, of which she is the Founder.

Guided by the philosophy that every patient is different, she believes that effective care must be customized according to individual needs. She is a strong advocate for prevention rather than treatment – especially in regard to obesity and diabetes. Her practice is based on achieving results through teamwork between physician and patient.

Treating patients for all general endocrinology needs, her areas of expertise include: osteoporosis; thyroid disease, including in-office ultrasound and ultrasound guided biopsy; obesity medicine; diabetes type I and type II, gestational and steroid induced; adrenal adenomas; amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea; congenital adrenal hyperplasia; cushing disease; gynecomastia (breast growth in men); hyperaldosteronism; hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia; hyperlipidemia; hyperparathyroidism; hypoglycemia; hypo and hypernatremia (low or high sodium levels); osteopenia; pituitary adenoma; PCOS; prolactinomas; and transgender medicine. She performs in-office thyroid ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules.

“There’s a lot of lifestyle and behavioral therapy that goes hand-in-hand with pharmacotherapy in obesity medicine, so having that time with my patients is crucial. When I see a new patient, I allot sixty minutes for our visit, and every follow-up visit after that is thirty minutes (though I do sometimes go over). This allows me ample time to speak with each patient about their condition and everything that may be affecting their health. I also guide them on how to make healthier choices that will have an impact on their overall well-being. Seeing how this approach has changed my patients’ lives for the better has been incredibly rewarding. It’s proof that obesity is treatable, and that medications work wonderfully alongside informative lifestyle and behavioral changes” as stated by Dr. Salas-Whalen.

An active participant in the continuing advancement of her field and a strong proponent of lifelong career learning, she is a Clinical Instructor at NYU Langone Hospital.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Salas-Whalen graduated with her medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. She then went on to perform her residency in internal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, and her research fellowship in obesity surgery at John Hopkins University. This was followed by a fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2010.

“Ever since I was a young girl, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor. I’m the first physician on both sides of my family, so while I wasn’t necessarily exposed to it growing up, I still had a strong passion for medicine starting from a young age. I think I can trace my interest back to my insatiable curiosity as a child: I was always interested in how things work — especially the human body. I couldn’t understand why taking certain medications would help with some conditions but not others. I wanted to get to the bottom of how things worked and why” expressed Dr. Salas-Whalen.

Believing in the power of patient knowledge in driving outcomes and promoting lifelong health, she is board-certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine & endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Holding membership status with several professional organizations, Dr. Salas-Whalen is an active member of the American Thyroid Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the American Obesity Association, and the Endocrine Society.

Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. Endocrinologists have the training to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in the body. The common diseases and disorders of the endocrine system that endocrinologists deal with include diabetes mellitus, as well as adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid disorders, among others. 

On a more personal note, Dr. Salas-Whalen’s favorite meal is anything spicy. She loves Mexican food, Thai food, Indian food — anything that serves up that hot, burning feeling. She speaks English and Spanish fluently.

Additional Information

Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, is a Leading Endocrinologist and Owner of New York Endocrinology in New York City, NY

Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, is a top endocrinologist and obesity medicine physician who lends her skills and expertise to serve patients at her private practice, New York Endocrinology, in New York City. She additionally serves as Clinical Instructor at NYU Langone Hospital. With eleven years of experience as an endocrinologist, she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system with a focus on diabetes type I and II, obesity medicine, and thyroid disorders. Her areas of expertise cover diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, gestational and steroid induced diabetes, Cushing disease, osteopenia, prolactinomas, pituitary adenoma, PCOS, transgender medicine, amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal adenomas, etc. Dr. Salas-Whalen is also an expert in hype and hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism, hyper and hyponatremia, and hyperlipidemia. Prior to her current endeavors, she served for 3 years in an underserved area in Florida. She also performs in-office thyroid ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules, as well as gynecomastia (breast growth in men). For more information about Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, please visit https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1821257916/rocio-salas-whalen.

 
According to the Society for Endocrinology, “An endocrinologist is a doctor that treats diseases related to problems with hormones. A hormone is a chemical messenger that travels from one cell to another. Hormones are released in one part of the body, travel in the blood stream and have an effect on other part of the body. This helps different parts of the human body to communicate with each other. Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands, such as the pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands.” In her practice, Dr. Salas-Whalen is driven by the philosophy that every patient is different. Her belief is that care must be customized according to individual needs to be effective. A strong advocate for prevention rather than treatment – especially regarding obesity and diabetes, Dr. Salas-Whalen states “Ever since I was a young girl, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor. I am the first physician on both sides of my family, so while I was not necessarily exposed to it growing up, I still had a strong passion for medicine starting from a young age. I think I can trace my interest back to my insatiable curiosity as a child: I was always interested in how things work - especially the human body”. For more information about Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, please visit https://www.nyendocrinology.com/dr-salas-whalen.

Following 7 years of medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, went on to complete a three-year residency in internal medicine at NYC Health +hospitals/Jacobi (2004-2007). She then engaged on a one-year research fellowship in obesity surgery at John Hopkins University school of Medicine (2007-2008), followed by a two-year fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the University of Maryland Medical Center (2008-2010). Dr. Salas-Whalen attained board certification in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). She then pursued her board certification in obesity medicine with the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Furthermore, she is a member the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association, and the American Obesity Association, and the Endocrine Society. Outside of work, she loves anything spicy, especially Mexican food, Indian food, and Thai food. She speaks English and Spanish fluently. For more information about Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, please visit https://www.findatopdoc.com/doctor/1884625-Rocio-Salas-Whalen-Endocrinology-Diabetes.

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