Maria Eleni Nikita, MD

Dr. Nikita specializes in pediatric endocrinology with a particular focus on thyroid cancer; diabetes; sexual development disorders; and the care of transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. She believes in forming and maintaining a partnership with her patients and their families, taking into consideration their environment and concerns beyond the medical reasons for their visit.

Dr. Nikita believes in taking a holistic approach—assessing the whole patient and not just a specific medical issue—to treating children and addressing any family or environmental issues that may impact their health. She also aims to provide her patients with the necessary tools to manage their hormonal issues and become self-sufficient adults. Since joining the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at University of Maryland Children’s Hospital in 2015, she has been actively involved in managing the endocrine needs of transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents through the Your Trans Care (YTC) specialty program.

Dr. Nikita conducted research at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on genetic defects of patients with endocrine neoplasia syndromes. The research focus of her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, was pediatric thyroid cancer. She particularly enjoys teaching medical students, residents and fellows.

Multiple times over the years, Dr. Nikita has been recognized as a "Top Doctor" by Baltimore magazine.