POTSDAM -- St. Lawrence Health System recently hired endocrinologist Dr. Paul M. Tejera to its medical staff.

He will practice with Canton-Potsdam Hospital with a temporary office at 12 Elm St. (formerly Primecare) in Potsdam until space opens at St. Lawrence Health System’s medical office building in Canton, which is under construction.

He is the first and only endocrinologist to practice in St. Lawrence County, according to SLHS.

He will begin seeing patients Aug. 3.

Tejera treats disorders of the endocrine system, which is comprised of glands that secrete a variety of hormones. Hormonal imbalances may occur due to genetic predisposition, autoimmunity, lifestyle factors, or benign and cancerous tumors. Diseases and disorders of the endocrine system may affect the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenals, pituitary, and other organs or glands which may result in various symptoms, including unexplained weight gain, elevated blood pressure, and fatigue, SLHS said.

“I’m pleased to provide diagnosis and treatment for diabetes and thyroid disorders, as well as less common diseases of the endocrine system, such as overactive parathyroid glands causing high calcium levels, pituitary dysfunction requiring hormone replacement, and adrenal gland disorders, including Addison’s disease or Cushing’s disease,” said Tejera.

He received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Roseau, Dominica, and completed his internal medicine residency at Hahnemann University Hospital of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Penn. He completed his endocrinology fellowship at Hahnemann, where he was appointed chief endocrinology fellow in 2014. He is board-certified in internal medicine and board eligible in endocrinology. He is a member of the American Thyroid Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, and the Endocrine Society. He is the lead author of publications and has given presentations on diabetes control, thyroid disorders, and endocrine syndromes involving elevated cholesterol levels in liver disease and the management of low testosterone in men, SLHS said.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, interested people should contact their primary care provider or call 274-9740.