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Sarah Auletta is a student at Simmons University (‘24) in Boston, Massachusetts double majoring in Public Health and Spanish with a minor in Healthcare Management. She has lived with type one diabetes since March of 2017. She recently completed a research project on reducing the cost of care in next generation genetic sequencing and presented her work at the nation’s only undergraduate peer-reviewed research conference on health and society. Her many jobs include being the practice biller and grant administrator for her hometown, operations for an arts festival, and coordinating logistics for Simmons’ orientation program. With a passion to make as many people feel better as possible, her love for public health was born and she’s excited to see where it takes her!
Samantha is a class of 2023 nurse graduate at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, and aspiring diabetes nurse educator! Completing her senior preceptorship at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Diabetes Clinic, Samantha recognizes the importance of individualized and compassionate care for those who live with diabetes and their families. A type one diabetic since 2007, Samantha has used her voice over the last 16 years to educate and advocate in her personal, local, and national communities.
Haven is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology. She works as a Care Coordinator, working with her own mental health clients who she advocates for everyday. Haven plans to go into the field of Social Work for her Master’s Degree in 2024. She loves to hang out with friends, watch movies, and have nice brunches and dinners. She was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at the age of 15, which drives her passion for patient advocacy.
Ethan Davis is from Zanesville, Ohio, and is a student studying Exercise Physiology at Ohio University. He hopes to pursue medical school following his undergraduate studies. He is a research assistant in the primary care department at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. He gained his passion for advocacy through his family, friends, and community members that live with diabetes. He is passionate about advocating for the Appalachian region and decreasing the financial burden associated with living with diabetes.
Emma Adkins was born & raised in Seattle, WA and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of ten. Emma earned her bachelor’s degree from Seattle University in interdisciplinary liberal studies & data science and her work focused on examining complex social and health issues in the U.S. Emma is now pursuing a master’s in business administration with an emphasis in business analytics and project management in hopes of working in an advocacy role at a healthcare technology company. Emma currently serves as the program coordinator for Seattle University’s College of Nursing DNP program where her role is to support and advocate for students studying to become nurse practitioners.
Bashiyer is a B.S. candidate at the University of Michigan studying Biology, Health, and Society with a Minor in Community Action and Social Change. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes herself, she maintains active involvement on campus and in the community. She currently works as a research assistant working with beta cell dysfunction and insulin secretion and has been involved in several initiatives, including JDRF’s Advocates in Action Council and the Students for Diabetes Awareness organization on her campus, to raise awareness and improve access to care for those living with the disease. With a passion for improving diabetes care and a commitment to promoting health equity, Bashiyer is bound to make a meaningful contribution to the medical field and the wider community.
Athena Maria Sofides is a Greek-American researcher and artist born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Drawing upon her experience in toxicological research, grassroots organizing, and legal advocacy, Athena’s work aims to bridge public health, legal, and community-based knowledge. Athena is currently pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Management at the Yale School of Environment (YSE), where she studies the politics of environmental toxicity, embodiment, and disruption. Outside of the classroom, Athena works as a paralegal in product liability litigation, serves as a member of the Student Academic Affairs committee at YSE, and writes short sci-fi and poetry pieces about gender, ecology, and diaspora. Through her work as a model and artist, Athena hopes to spread awareness and visibility of diabetes and chronic illness. A newly-diagnosed diabetic, Athena is passionate about patient advocacy and disability justice, and is animated by connection, care, love, and the healing power of community.
Ashley is a second year student at De Anza College, studying Biological Sciences on a pre-med track. She currently works for Saint Louis Regional Hospital in the Medical-surgical nursing department, where she is gaining valuable experience working with medical professionals. Growing up with Type 1 Diabetes, Ashley has always felt a strong sense of responsibility to give back and help others. She has volunteered with a number of organizations, including the CarbDM, JDRF, and the American Diabetes Association, raising awareness and funds to support research aimed at finding a cure for diabetes. In the near future, Ashley hopes to become a physician assistant, with a particular focus on providing quality care to patients in marginalized communities with diabetes. She believes in making a positive difference in the world, and is grateful for the opportunity to use her skills and knowledge to help those in need. When she’s not working or studying, Ashley enjoys biking, experimenting with new recipes, and volunteering at a local cat shelter.
Alex has completed a BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Canada), and an MSc in Diabetes Medicine from the University of Dundee (Dundee, Scotland). His MSc thesis involved determining the most salient barriers to physical activity in the T1D population, and how different factors, such as age, social support, disease-specific knowledge, and self-efficacy affect participation in sport and exercise. Alex has also been accepted for a PhD position with Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) in Diabetes and Exercise Physiology that will begin in the Fall of 2023. Outside of academics, Alex enjoys several strength sports (powerlifting, stone-lifting, and strongman). He was also the 198th person to lift the famous Dinnie Stones in the Scottish Highlands in June 2022 (415lbs & 318lbs per hand).
Abigail Leon is from Woodland, CA and is a 4th year at UC Davis, majoring in Human Biology and Spanish. She was diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2006 and is eager to share her experience to help other diabetics. Abigail currently works at In-N-Out Burger while attending school full time, but her goal is to enter the medical field as an endocrinologist. She’s developed a passion for providing linguistically and culturally competent healthcare through her experience as a medical volunteer at Knights Landing One Health Center. When she’s not studying, volunteering, or flipping burgers, she enjoys playing with her 2 year old labradoodle, spending time with friends and family, or watching Gilmore Girls.
Tanya is currently studying Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 6, and as she grew up, she realized that she was interested in the technological advancements within the diabetes world, which motivated her to pursue a degree within the biomedical field. She continues to be an advocate for diabetes research and innovation, and is excited to see how the future can change the lives of those affected by this disease. This summer she is working in an analytical lab at a research firm!
Rand is studying Economics and Accounting at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she founded UCSB’s chapter of The Diabetes Link and is currently serving as the chapter president. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 10 years old and for the last decade she has had a passion for diabetes advocacy, previously volunteering with JDRF and serving as the president of the Pediatrics-Adolescent Diabetes Research and Education Foundation’s youth leadership program. Rand has always had a passion for building communities that support type 1 diabetics and educate others, this empowers her to further delve into the world of technological advancements in healthcare with a focus on type 1 diabetes. In her free time she enjoys hiking, figure skating and spending time with her friends!
Porter Bischoff is a Junior studying Biology at Utah Valley University. A proud Wolverine, Porter has been an active participant at his undergraduate university, participating in the NSF funded STEM Program, as an Honors Program Ambassador, working as a Presidential Intern for the Provost, and as the recipient of a university research grant. Porter aspires to receive an MD/PhD degree following his time at UVU, and he plans on going into diabetes care and innovation with these degrees, as he is type one diabetic himself. Porter is a natural leader, an advocate for all, an older sibling to two brothers and two sisters, and a best friend to his dog, Bubba.
Olivia Tabola is a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in Allied Health Sciences and minoring in Biological Sciences. She has had type 1 diabetes since she was 10 years old and has been passionate about diabetes management and advocacy ever since. Her interest in diabetes research and technology has only heightened since she started working for Insulet Corporation in 2021. More recently, she wrote her honors thesis on the types of information shared about type 1 diabetes on TikTok and evaluated whether the advice shared was consistent with clinical recommendations.
Katie Marchione is a sophomore at the University of Richmond studying Biochemistry and Health Studies. She has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since she was 14 years old and hopes to pursue a career in the field. Last summer she earned her EMT certification, she is currently working on a planetary health research project, and this summer she is researching in an organic chemistry research lab.
Jamie Kurtzig is a Stanford student studying biomechanical engineering and is passionate about diabetes technologies and health equity. Jamie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 1 year old, and has since worked with most major diabetes organizations, including The Diabetes Link, JDRF, Close Concerns, diaTribe, The Sugar Science, and AYUDA. She is currently working on a remote CGM patient monitoring platform called TIDE as an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator at Stanford’s Pediatric Endocrinology department. She is also leading a research project on the factors associated with disparities in access to diabetes management technologies with SURF Stanford Medicine and is helping bring artificial pancreas devices and clinical trials to India.
Claire is a second-year Molecular and Cell Biology student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who hopes to pursue biotechnology or biomedical engineering in the future. She is interested in drug development or medical device development. Claire has been exposed to diabetes through some of her closest teammates in her high school marching band and coworkers at her work. She sees the deficits in diabetes technology and is interested in further researching to improve the lives of people she cares about. She is an undergraduate research assistant at a molecular biology lab studying the genetics of planarians for the purpose of stem cell and regenerative medicine. On top of research, Claire is also a supervisor at her university’s dining halls and has taken an active leadership role within the division of dining. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, crocheting, and playing board games with friends.
Meet Deanelle Thompson, thriving with diabetes for 21 years, who is making a difference in the world of healthcare. As an analyst for Optimum Healthcare IT and a Health Informatics student at the University of Pittsburgh, he is conducting cutting-edge research on Explainable AI and musculoskeletal diseases. Deanelle is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his experiences and inviting guests to share theirs on his monthly show, Dope Black Diabetic, and a dedicated volunteer for the Diabetes Family Connection, where he is a counselor at Camp Morris and helps with marketing and communications. When he’s not working or volunteering, you can find Deanelle enjoying his hobbies of biking, playing soccer and coding!
Emma is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Science Communication. Since being diagnosed with T1D in August 2016, she has worked in close collaboration with the Wisconsin JDRF Chapter, serving as a Youth Ambassador and participating in the Ride to Cure. In addition to maintaining her affiliation with JDRF, Emma works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Engin Lab, where she investigates the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and aberrant protein unfolding in the development of T1D.
Stemming from her love for healthcare and problem solving, Arianna Gehan is a dedicated student pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. Living with type one diabetes has sparked her passion for advocacy, as she regularly meets with congressional representatives to ask for support for sustained research funding. Beyond just advocating for it, she is being published for her assistance in a neurological laboratory and has researched stem cells as a potential cure for T1D. Additionally, Arianna’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to co-founding Daia, an app to allow for short-term sharing of blood sugar levels.