In Honor of Dr. Augustine Joseph “Joe” D’Ercole
Dr. Augustine Joseph “Joe” D’Ercole devoted nearly his entire professional life to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where for decades he helped shape the fields of pediatric endocrinology, developmental biology, and academic medicine through his work as a physician, scientist, mentor, and division leader.
Joe arrived at UNC in 1974 as a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric endocrinology and remained on faculty until his retirement in 2011. Over the course of nearly four decades, he became one of the central figures in the division’s growth and national reputation.
His scientific contributions were both foundational and far-reaching. Joe was among the first investigators to demonstrate that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is produced locally in multiple tissues throughout the body, fundamentally changing how researchers understood growth regulation and development. His work helped open entirely new directions in developmental endocrinology and neuroscience, particularly regarding fetal and postnatal brain development.
Over the years, he continued expanding these ideas through elegant laboratory studies and genetically modified animal models that explored how growth factors influence growth, metabolism, and nervous system development. His research was continuously supported by the NIH for more than 35 years and resulted in more than 150 scientific publications, invited reviews, book chapters, and national and international presentations.
But for many of us, Joe’s greatest legacy was not only his science. It was the people he trained.
As Chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology from 1998 to 2008 and director of the fellowship program, Joe helped train generations of pediatric endocrinologists, physician-scientists, and academic leaders. Fellows came from across the United States and around the world. Many remained in academia, carrying with them not only his scientific influence, but also his approach to medicine, teaching, and intellectual curiosity.
Joe taught quietly but profoundly. He believed in careful thinking, scientific honesty, attention to detail, and respect for patients and families. He encouraged trainees to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and remain intellectually engaged even after years in practice. Conversations with him often moved seamlessly from patient care to molecular biology, from research design to broader reflections about medicine and life.
Many former fellows still remember the atmosphere of the division during those years: rigorous but collegial, intellectually ambitious but deeply humane. Joe led without theatricality. His influence came through consistency, generosity, humility, and example.
Outside medicine, Joe’s interests reflected the same curiosity and attentiveness that characterized his professional life. He was an avid reader, a talented photographer—especially of birds and nature—a passionate cook, and an enthusiastic traveler who enjoyed discovering local food and culture wherever he went. Later in life, he even published a novel and devoted time to exploring family history. He was also a devoted Notre Dame Fighting Irish football fan who rarely missed a game.
Joe passed away on December 21, 2023, at his home in Chapel Hill following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ginny, their sons, Ethan (and his wife Mindi) and Jed (and his wife Nicole), their grandson, Will, and a wide community of colleagues, trainees, collaborators, patients, and friends whose lives he profoundly influenced.
Continuing His Legacy
To honor Joe’s life and the values he brought to academic medicine, Ginny D’Ercole has established the A. Joseph D’Ercole, MD Pediatric Endocrinology Fellows Fund at UNC.
“Joe was very proud of the Fellowship Program and its important role in training future pediatric endocrinologists. Our family wish is to honor Joe’s legacy through this scholarship to help future fellows as they pursue their careers,” his wife Ginny said.
The fund will support pediatric endocrinology fellows through:
- research and laboratory infrastructure
- advanced educational and training opportunities
- travel to scientific and professional meetings
- support for publications and scholarly work
- community engagement and advocacy activities
Most importantly, the fund is intended to help young physicians and scientists develop in the same spirit Joe valued throughout his career: intellectual rigor, curiosity, mentorship, collaboration, and compassionate patient care.
An Invitation
For many of us, Joe’s influence extended far beyond the years we trained or worked with him. His mentorship shaped careers, academic paths, scientific interests, and lifelong friendships. The community that formed around the fellowship program remains one of the enduring reflections of his leadership.
This fund offers an opportunity to support future generations of fellows while honoring the remarkable physician, scientist, mentor, and human being who helped build that community.
Contributions to the A. Joseph D’Ercole, MD Pediatric Endocrinology Fellows Fund will help ensure that future fellows continue to receive the opportunities, encouragement, and mentorship that Joe so generously provided to others throughout his life.
