The leadership and dedication demonstrated by these volunteer leaders is unmatched.
CHICAGO (PRWEB) April 18, 2018
DiabetesSisters, the national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and support women with all types of diabetes or prediabetes, has selected 27 women from 15 states to participate in its 4th annual Leadership Institute this fall. Each woman is a diabetes advocate, a prominent DiabeteSisters volunteer, and a leader of monthly Part of DiabetesSisters (PODS) Meetups providing peer support in her local community.
The outstanding women leaders selected to participate in the Institute’s activities are:
- Gayle McKenna (Agoura Hills, California)
- Erika Armani (Denver, Colorado)
- Theresa Hastings (Denver, Colorado)
- Karen Graffeo (Stratford, Connecticut)
- Diane Bajalia (Jacksonville, Florida)
- Jennifer Stanton (Jacksonville, Florida)
- Daphene Kimball (Keysville, Georgia)
- Ali Delainides (Newport, Kentucky)
- Jan Mosso (Catonsville, Maryland)
- Sandy Brooks (Braintree, Massachusetts)
- Clare Fishman (Framingham, Massachusetts)
- Sarah MacLeod (Boston, Massachusetts)
- Rachel Foster (St. Paul, Minnesota)
- Anne Dalin (Bridgewater, New Jersey)
- Denise Scheffler (Bridgewater, New Jersey)
- Karen Tank (Princeton, New Jersey)
- Robin Wright (Princeton, New Jersey)
- Cindy Campaniello (Rochester, New York)
- Connie Hanham-Cain (Albany, New York)
- Andrea Herndon (Fairport, New York)
- Jo-Nette Boyd (Durham, North Carolina)
- Jane Dyson (Durham, North Carolina)
- Alejandra Marquez (Greensboro, North Carolina)
- Diane Berinato (Columbus, Ohio)
- Jill Sobon (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
- Shelby Kinnaird (Richmond, Virginia)
- Tricia Wingard (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Attendees were selected based on criteria including: demonstrated excellence in providing peer support to women with diabetes; dependability and teamwork; commitment to diverse, inclusive, respectful, supportive groups; and representation of the organization.
“Our annual Leadership Institute, now in its fourth year, has become an integral piece of the training and development of our patient leaders. This year we are pleased to welcome a combination of experienced and novice PODS Leaders, providing them an opportunity to learn from professionals as well as from one another – the true experts in their journey with diabetes. The leadership demonstrated by these women is unmatched, and their passion and dedication to their health – and that of other women – is to be highly recognized. I look forward to welcoming each of them this fall,” said Anna Norton, MS, CEO of DiabetesSisters.
The 2018 DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute will be held September 28-30 in Chicago. Institute faculty include diabetes educator and author Lori Zinman, RD, CDE, and Leyla Mansour-Cole, Esq., of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. Participants will also learn from two panels of their peers, who will share their experience and best practices in leading peer support groups and living with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) for more than two decades.
A DiabetesSisters signature program, the PODS Meetup program started in Raleigh, NC in 2010 and has grown to support monthly meetings in 39 locations throughout the US. The program provides peer support, education, and advocacy to women living with diabetes and prediabetes and serves more than 1,300 women annually.
DiabetesSisters recognizes and appreciates the support of Dexcom, AstraZeneca (pending confirmation), Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Merck, and Novo Nordisk as sponsors of the 2018 Leadership Institute.
About DiabetesSisters:
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DiabetesSisters is the only organization nationwide focusing exclusively on women living with diabetes. Our mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with and at risk of developing diabetes and to advocate on their behalf. DiabetesSisters has a 13,000-member peer network that unites women with diabetes for the purpose of support, education, and advocacy. Signature programs include monthly peer support meetings (PODS Meetups); the Life Class Webinar Series and online blogs, forums, and expert resources; and conferences throughout the US. For more information, visit diabetessisters.org.