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Kelly L. Close is president of Close Concerns, Inc., a healthcare information firm exclusively focused on the businesses of diabetes and obesity. The mission of Close Concerns is to improve patient outcomes by getting the best information on the state of the fields available globally to whoever needs it – companies, healthcare professionals, patients, and families. Kelly is editor-in-chief of diaTribe, a free online newsletter focused on new research and products for people with diabetes (diaTribe.us) that has over 20,000 subscribers. Additionally, she is active in dQ&A, Close Concerns’ sister company, a market research business that surveys over five thousand people with diabetes each quarter. She is a longtime diabetes advocate, and on the boards of the Diabetes Hands Foundation and the Behavioral Diabetes Institute. Before starting Close Concerns in 2002, Kelly was an equity research analyst at Merrill Lynch in medical technology; prior to this, she worked at McKinsey & Company. Kelly is a graduate of Amherst College, magna cum laude, and of the Harvard Business School. She has had type 1 diabetes for over 25 years.
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Steven V. Edelman, MD is the founder and director of Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 diabetes education organization founded in 1995. He is committed to promoting education, motivation and self-advocacy for people living with diabetes. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Dr. Edelman currently serves as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at the University of California at San Diego and the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System of San Diego. He is the Director of the Diabetes Care Clinic VA Medical Center and the Editor of the journals Insulin and Diabetes, Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. His research and publication history is extensive with over 200 articles and 5 books. In 2009, the American Diabetes Association recognized Dr. Edelman with the Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award. Dr. Edelman graduated as the valedictorian from the University of California at Davis Medical School. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at UCLA and Clinical Fellowships in Diabetes and Metabolism at the Joslin and Lahey Clinics in Boston, as well as a research fellowship at the University of California at San Diego.
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Crystal Crismond Jackson is Associate Director of Legal Advocacy at the American Diabetes Association (ADA)'s Home Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Her primary responsibility is managing the Association's Safe at School Campaign. Crystal is considered a national authority on the rights of students with diabetes and has spoken at conferences and forums throughout the United States and internationally on how to effectively advocate on behalf of students with diabetes, training hundreds of parent advocates, attorneys, and health care professionals. A parent of a child with diabetes, Crystal began her advocacy as a volunteer for ADA when she successfully led the effort to pass the first state diabetes school legislation in the country which provides comprehensive coverage for students with diabetes in Virginia. Simultaneously she pursued a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education resulting in a settlement that is a nationwide model for safe and effective school diabetes care. Crystal is a former litigation paralegal and a contributor to many diabetes publications including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Diabetes Education Program's school guide entitled "Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel" and the ADA's treatise on school issues: "Legal Rights of Students with Diabetes." Crystal is a member of the Virginia Diabetes Council, serves on a number of other diabetes and youth advisory boards and committees.
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Scott K. Johnson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of 1980. He has been writing about his struggles and successes with diabetes since late 2004. Currently blogging at Scott's Diabetes (scottsdiabetes.com), and contributing to many diabetes related projects, Scott stays busy connecting with others living with diabetes. Scott works full time as a freelance writer and diabetes consultant, and says, "I'm your average guy living with type 1 diabetes. I don't have it all figured out, and sharing my struggles with diabetes helps by showing people that it is Ok to still be trying to get it right, even after 32+ years." Scott lives with his family near the Minneapolis, MN area.
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Tom Karlya, Vice President of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, is commonly known throughout the diabetes community as Diabetes Dad, used virtually everywhere, including his monthly column which appears at www.dLife.com/diabetesdad. He's been active since his daughter, Kaitlyn, was diagnosed in 1992 at the age of two. In 2009, his son Rob was also diagnosed, at age 13. Tom has been introduced to the NY State Capitol, testified in Washington, D.C., appeared at diabetes-related events at the United Nations and has lectured across the US about being a Diabetes Dad. He received numerous commendations for his work in the Katrina efforts where he was instrumental in organizing aid to over 10,000 people with diabetes. Tom was awarded The Jeff Hitchcock Distinguished Service Award from CWD in 2008 among many other awards from groups and organizations. For 12 years as an actor, he starred in the New York Production of Tony 'N Tina's Wedding, with the original Company and also at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., in Summer of the 17th Doll. His film, lbs., was at the Sundance Film Festival, and appeared in Unsolved Mysteries, Spin City, The Cosby Show, NYPD Blue, Law and Order, America's Most Wanted, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and more as well as numerous commercials. He won 13 Telly Awards, a FREDDIE Award, and was nominated for an Emmy Award while Executive Producer of dLife on CNBC. Tom will tell you that above everything else, he's just a CWD Dad.
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Before her young daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997, Moira McCarthy had accomplished quite a bit as a nationally-competitive freestyle skier, award-winning crime reporter (she was once almost sent to jail for refusing to reveal a source and also helped solve a serial murder), author of books on golf and skiing, and one of the world's best-known ski and adventure writers. But her daughter's diagnosis presented her with the ultimate challenge: how to raise a healthy – but still active and happy child -- and how to make a difference in the diabetes world. Author of the best-selling book "The Everything Parents Guide to Juvenile Diabetes" and creator of the blog Despitediabetes, McCarthy is a well-known national diabetes advocate and was JDRF's International Volunteer of the Year in 2007. She and her daughter have been guests on CNN Live, Larry King Live, FOX morning News, Good Morning America and on the front page of the New York Times. Her daughter, now a college student 500 miles away from home, is thriving. Their mantra: despite diabetes, you need to get busy living.
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Kerri Sparling was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in September of 1986 and lives by the mantra "Diabetes doesn't define me, but it helps explain me." Creator and editor of the diabetes blog, SixUntilMe.com, she has contributed to many diabetes-related websites and publications, and is a passionate advocate for diabetes awareness. An expert in social media and its influence on patients, Kerri presents regularly at new media conferences and currently works full-time as a freelance writer and social media consultant. Kerri lives in Rhode Island with her husband Chris, their daughter, and a small army of cats.
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Lee Ann Thill, MA, ATR-BC, LPC has had type 1 diabetes since 1978. She is a registered board-certified art therapist and Pennsylvania licensed professional counselor, helping people with diabetes address issues like depression, burnout, food and body issues, and family conflict through arts-based interventions and counseling in her private practice in suburban Philadelphia. Lee Ann authors the diabetes blog, The Butter Compartment, and she founded and facilitates Diabetes Art Day and the World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange. She is Adjunct Professor of Art Therapy at Holy Family University, and a doctoral student in the Expressive Therapies at Lesley University, researching the use of art therapy with diabetes patients. Lee Ann lives with her husband, Jason, diabetes service dog in-training, Lucy, dog, Kaylee, and lizards, Dexter and Darwin, outside of Philadelphia where she enjoys photography and art-making in her free time, believing creative expression is a path to healing and embracing life with diabetes.
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Ellen H. Ullman, MSW, has been a passionate and tireless proponent for diabetes advocacy since 1989 when her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She has participated online at the CWD website almost from the beginning and at many Children with Diabetes FFL conferences. She is a well-respected Internet liaison who compiles and disseminates the latest news about diabetes research, products and medical devices. Ellen offers an empathetic, encouraging, and empowering presence to families impacted by diabetes. She also serves as VP of the Children with Diabetes Foundation, and works as a research associate for Close Concerns.
Friends for Life 2012 Conference and Expo Introduction - Registration - Exhibitors - FAQs - Sponsors - Convention Center Map (PDF) Faculty - Youth Faculty - Grandparents Faculty - CWD Staff - Sports Central Staff Schedule: Parents & Adults - Youth Registration - Teen Driving Clinic - Retinal Screening Signup - Childcare Form (PDF) Reports from 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001
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Last Updated: Thursday January 05, 2017 18:38:01
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