Robert T. Ferraro

Now Accepting Patients

Dr. Ferraro is currently accepting new patients for diabetes, thyroid, and hormone care. A referral from your primary care provider is needed before a first appointment can be scheduled. To get started, call the Endocrinology clinic in Artesia at (575) 736-8440 or request an appointment online. Se habla español.

About Robert T. Ferraro, MD, CBDCE, CCD

Robert T. Ferraro, MD is a board-certified endocrinologist at Artesia General Hospital, caring for patients across Artesia, Eddy County, Carlsbad, Roswell, and southeastern New Mexico. Dr. Ferraro diagnoses and treats diabetes, thyroid disease, and a wide range of hormone and metabolic disorders, with clinics in both Artesia and Carlsbad so patients can get specialized care close to home rather than driving to Albuquerque.

Dr. Ferraro brings more than 40 years of endocrinology experience to the region, with a training and research background few providers in New Mexico can match. He earned his medical degree from the University of Padova in Italy, one of the oldest medical schools in the world, and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey. He then completed a clinical fellowship in endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City.

He went on to a research fellowship at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, in Phoenix, where he contributed to landmark diabetes and metabolism research. His work has been published in the world’s leading medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. That research foundation informs the evidence-based care he brings to every patient today.

Dr. Ferraro speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, so many patients and families across southeastern New Mexico can discuss their care in the language they are most comfortable with (habla español). Learn more about the Endocrinology and Diabetes program at Artesia General Hospital.

Conditions Dr. Ferraro Treats

As an endocrinologist, Dr. Ferraro provides specialized care for hormone and metabolic conditions that often need management beyond what primary care can offer, including:

• Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, including advanced and hard-to-control cases
• Prediabetes and blood sugar management
• Thyroid disease: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, and goiter
• Osteoporosis and bone density disorders (Dr. Ferraro is a Certified Clinical Densitometrist)
• Pituitary and adrenal gland disorders
• Metabolic and nutritional disorders, including obesity
• Hormone imbalances

Specialized Experience

Dr. Ferraro’s career bridges frontline patient care and high-level clinical research. Earlier in his career he served as Medical Director of the Southwest Regional Diabetes Center and the Presbyterian Diabetes Center, and as Medical Director of Nutrition Support Teams, building diabetes and nutrition programs from the ground up. As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CBDCE), he pairs medical management with practical, day-to-day diabetes education, and as a Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD) he brings added expertise to diagnosing and managing osteoporosis and bone health.

Publications

Dr. Ferraro is a published researcher whose work on diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolism appeared in many of the most respected journals in medicine. Each citation links to its listing on PubMed (a National Institutes of Health database) so patients can verify the research directly. Selected peer-reviewed publications include:

Kotler DP, Tierney AR, Ferraro R, et al. Effect of enteral alimentation on body cell mass in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1991. [PubMed]

Lillioja S, Mott DM, Spraul M, Ferraro R, et al. Insulin resistance and insulin secretory dysfunction as precursors of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine. 1993. [PubMed]

Saad MF, Lillioja S, Nyomba BL, Ferraro R, et al. Racial differences in the relation between blood pressure and insulin resistance. New England Journal of Medicine. 1991. [PubMed]

Ferraro RT, Eckel RH, Larson DE, et al. Relationship between skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase activity and 24-h macronutrient oxidation. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1993. [PubMed]

Ferraro R, Lillioja S, Fontvieille AM, et al. Lower sedentary metabolic rate in women compared to men. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1992. [PubMed]

Zurlo F, Ferraro RT, Fontvieille AM, et al. Spontaneous physical activity and obesity: cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in Pima Indians. American Journal of Physiology. 1992. [PubMed]

Larson DE, Ferraro RT, Robertson DS, Ravussin E. Energy metabolism in weight-stable postobese individuals. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1995. [PubMed]

Rising R, Harper IT, Fontvieille AM, Ferraro RT, et al. Determinants of total energy expenditure: variability in physical activity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1994. [PubMed]

Academic and Administrative Appointments

• Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
• Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition
• Medical Director, Southwest Regional Diabetes Center, Albuquerque
• Medical Director, Presbyterian Diabetes Center, Albuquerque
• Clinical Associate, Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix

Professional Organizations

• Endocrine Society
• American Diabetes Association
• American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
• The Obesity Society (formerly North American Association for the Study of Obesity)
• American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• American Medical Association
• New Mexico Medical Society

Education, Training, and Certifications

Board Certifications

• American Board of Internal Medicine: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
• American Board of Internal Medicine: Internal Medicine

Specialty Certifications

• Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CBDCE)
• Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD)

Training

• Medical degree: University of Padova, Italy
• Internship and residency, Internal Medicine: Englewood Hospital, New Jersey
• Clinical fellowship, Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition: St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York
• Research fellowship: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Phoenix

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Robert Ferraro

Where does Dr. Ferraro see patients in Artesia and Carlsbad?

Dr. Ferraro sees patients at the Endocrinology clinic in Artesia (608 N 13th St., Suite 600) and at the Carlsbad Multi-Specialty Clinic (1410 N 8th St., Suite B). He cares for patients from Artesia and Eddy County, Carlsbad, Roswell, and the surrounding southeastern New Mexico communities. See Locations for directions.

Is Dr. Ferraro a board-certified endocrinologist?

Yes. Dr. Ferraro is board-certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and in Internal Medicine, and he is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CBDCE) and Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD), with more than 40 years of endocrinology experience and a research background at the National Institutes of Health.

What does an endocrinologist treat?

An endocrinologist treats conditions of the hormones and glands, including diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, and pituitary and adrenal disorders. Your primary care provider may refer you to Dr. Ferraro for specialized management. You can read more on the Endocrinology and Diabetes page.

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Ferraro?

Yes. New patients need a referral from their primary care provider before a first appointment can be scheduled. Once you have a referral, call the Artesia clinic at (575) 736-8440 to get started.

Can patients from Roswell and elsewhere in southeastern New Mexico see Dr. Ferraro?

Yes. Many of Dr. Ferraro’s patients travel from Roswell and across southeastern New Mexico, and his Carlsbad clinic makes specialized diabetes and thyroid care more convenient, rather than driving to Albuquerque.

Does Dr. Ferraro speak Spanish?

Yes. Dr. Ferraro speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, so patients and families can discuss diagnosis, medication, and treatment in the language they are most comfortable with.