Six diabetes educators were honored at the AADE Annual Conference in Houston for their achievements in diabetes care and their dedication to the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE).
Diabetes Educator of the Year Award
Honoring a diabetes educator who has made a special contribution to the field through dedication, innovation and sensitivity in care.
Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, CDE
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and the Continuous Glucose Monitoring Program Coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center
A champion of holistic, comprehensive support, Isaacs’s dedication to the field of diabetes and innovative approaches to diabetes care have been inspiring. As a diabetes educator, she initiated a program with physicians so that new individuals to the practice could access diabetes education on their first visit. As the Continuous Glucose Monitoring Program Coordinator, Isaacs partnered with diabetes nurses and dietitians to offer diagnostic continuous glucose monitoring in the context of shared medical appointments at her clinic. At AADE, Isaacs has served in several roles including her current position as the Ohio AADE Coordinating Body Leader, a member of the Technology Committee and the BC-ADM Credentialing Committee among others.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizing the outstanding contributions and service to AADE and honoring individuals who exemplify the proud history of diabetes education while serving as extraordinary role models.
Carolé Mensing, RN, MA, CDE, FAADE
Clinical Diabetes Specialist
Mensing’s 50 plus years of service to diabetes care and the Association has served as inspiration to countless others. Her career as a diabetes educator and nurse has brought her to places like the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute, where she worked to further key concepts on the advancement of educational strategies, teaching learning components and self-care education in a team environment. Her volunteerism has included past Board positions at AADE and the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) as well as Past President of Health Care and Education at the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Within AADE, Mensing is a past winner of the Allene Van Son Distinguished Service Award and currently serves as co-chair of the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors® revision workgroup, Diabetes Education Accreditation Program auditor and a contributor to the Art and Science of Diabetes Education Desk Reference.
Allene Van Son Distinguished Service Award
In honor of the first AADE President, this award recognizes outstanding contributions and service to AADE.
Teresa Pearson, MS, RN, CDE, FAADE
Owner and Director of Clinical Services at Innovative Healthcare Designs
Pearson has more than 25 years of outstanding service to diabetes care and the Association, having served on numerous boards and committees both locally and nationally for AADE and others. At AADE, she currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for AADE In Practice, the practice journal for AADE, as well as an AADE Master Trainer for the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle coach training. As President of Innovative Healthcare Designs, Pearson consults with various clinical organizations around the country regarding care model redesign, and clinical quality improvement in diabetes care using population health approaches focused on improving clinical outcomes in value-based purchasing models.
Strategic Initiative Award
Recognizing educators whose work reinforces AADE’s strategic goals in diversity or new models of care to achieve the outcomes inspired by AADE’s mission and vision.
Michael Rush, PharmD, BCACP, CDE, NCTTP
Director of Ohio Northern University HealthWise and Director of Pharmacy Residency Programs at Ohio Northern University.
*This award is accepted on behalf of the ONU HealthWise clinical team
Rush and his colleagues at Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy have developed a unique collaboration of services in order to provide a rural mobile health clinic to a medically underserved area. This model of care overcomes several barriers to access such as using a mobile clinic to meet people in their communities and offering the services at no cost through grant funding in order to reach low income populations. This innovative project also addresses a health professional shortage by using student health professionals in the mobile clinic.
Rising Star Award
Honoring diabetes educators who have less than three years of experience and have demonstrated leadership and commitment to diabetes care.
Julia Blanchette, PhD(c), RN, CDE
Diabetes Educator at the Cleveland Clinic and PhD candidate at Case Western Reserve University
Blanchette has become a leader in her field and advocate in her community, pulling from her extensive research background and passion for pediatric care to better support those transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Blanchette was one of the few healthcare professionals to step up when the nation’s oldest camp for children with type 1 diabetes was in danger of shutting down, helping to save the camp for future generations. Within AADE, Blanchette serves as co-chair in the Pediatric and Camp Educators Community of Interest and has helped in numerous publications and presentations.
Innovative Use of Technology Award
Supporting the innovative use and integration of technology into practice.
Jennifer LeBlanc, BSN, RN, CDE
Director of Professional Education and Care Delivery at Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School
LeBlanc and team members Dr. Nuha El Sayed and Jo-Anne Rizotto developed ACT NOW, a shared decision-making assistive framework and tool to reduce the sense of burden felt by professionals facing the rapid change in the field of diabetes technology in general and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in particular. ACT NOW facilitates the interpretation of CGM data, insulin dose adjustment, as well as related diabetes planning for healthcare providers and individuals with diabetes. It was designed based on adult learning theory that emphasizes better retention techniques, identification and reduction of misconceptions, experiential learning and behavior change and can be used by diabetes educators, mid-level providers and physicians who work with individuals who use CGM.
About AADE AADE is a multi-disciplinary professional membership organization dedicated to improving diabetes care through innovative education, management and support. With more than 14,000 professional members including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, exercise specialists, and others, AADE has a vast network of practitioners working with people who have, are affected by or are at risk for diabetes. Learn more at www.diabeteseducator.org, or visit us on Facebook (American Association of Diabetes Educators), Twitter (@AADEdiabetes) and Instagram (@AADEdiabetes).
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