Dr. Robert E. Ratner, MD, FACP, FACE is a globally respected endocrinologist with deep expertise in diabetes research, treatment, and public health policy. He currently serves as a Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he fostered metabolic research and understanding.
He served two years as Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health, following five years as Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
At Virta Health, Dr. Ratner oversaw research efforts and medical interventions in the continuous remote care management of type 2 diabetes, with an emphasis on ketogenic nutritional approaches. His leadership was instrumental in advancing scalable, patient-centered solutions for diabetes reversal and management in real-world settings. Dr. Ratner shared his love and appreciation for reviewing data with his research team at Virta, challenging them to examine the outcomes and advance the science. He encouraged and facilitated over 20 scientific presentations by the Virta team at national scientific meetings including the Scientific Sessions of the ADA and Obesity Week. Publication of these findings in peer-reviewed journals have appeared well after he left Virta.
During his tenure at the ADA, Dr. Ratner provided strategic leadership for scientific and medical activities, including research, clinical affairs, program recognition and certification, medical information, and professional education. In this role, he oversaw the development of the ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations, clinical consensus reports, and expert opinions, shaping standards of care for millions of individuals with diabetes.Â
Dr. Ratner received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he also completed his Internal Medicine training. He then pursued fellowship training in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Harvard Medical School and the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, developing his lifelong focus on diabetes care and prevention. His public health interests were codified by a sabbatical in which he was a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine.
He was a Principal Investigator for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and DPP Outcomes Study of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was a member of the Steering Committee for this landmark national project. At Georgetown University, he contributed extensively to institutional leadership as a member of the University Research Committee and co-chair of the Joint Oversight Committee for Clinical Research.
Dr. Ratner is the author of more than 200 original scientific articles and 20 book chapters, contributing extensively to advancing the understanding of diabetes prevention, management, and health policy.
Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Dr. Ratner is a devoted mentor, generous with his time and always willing to guide early career researchers and clinicians. He is also a proud grandfather who finds joy in family, cooking, and the outdoors.
Dr. Ratner continues to inspire those around him with his experience, wisdom, and steadfast belief in pragmatic solutions based upon data that improve health outcomes for individuals and communities worldwide.