Join us for the 8th Annual diaTribe Musings Panel Discussions

Upcoming Event:
Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Diabetes, Obesity, and Stigma:
New Opportunities and Mixed Messages

5:00-6:15pm EDT / 2:00-3:15pm PDT

How do those of us living with diabetes navigate a world where on one hand we are being told ‘you can be healthy at any weight’ and, on the other, ‘you need to lose weight to be healthier?’ All the while staying focused on keeping our glucose levels in healthy ranges.

Today’s news and pop culture are full of stories about how glucose-lowering diabetes medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic and others can lead to dramatic weight loss. Healthcare professionals have also come to agree that, for many with type 2 diabetes, weight management is the best way to achieve a lower A1C. But we also know that diabetes and obesity can come with a lot of stigma and shame. Is the buzz surrounding these new medications helping with those feelings or contributing to them?

Join this panel of diabetes, obesity, and stigma experts, including two persons managing diabetes and excess weight, for ideas on how to speak to your healthcare team, and to yourself, so you can achieve the goals you set for your healthiest and happiest life.

Panel discussion with Q&A from 5:00-6:15pm EDT / 2:00-3:15pm PDT, with Community Networking open beginning 15 minutes prior. Stay on following the panel from 6:15-6:45pm EDT / 3:15-3:45pm PDT for more Community Networking.

Our highly-regarded speakers are Dr. Clare Lee, Lilly Diabetes; Dr. Rebecca Pearl, University of Florida; Michele Tedder, Patient Advocate, Black Women's Health Imperative; and Virginia Valentine, Clinica La Esperanza. The panel will be moderated by Matthew Garza, The diaTribe Foundation.

Register Here

PANELISTS

Clare Lee, MD, MHS
Executive Medical Director, Lilly Diabetes

Dr. Clare Lee is an endocrinologist and clinical research physician in Global Medical Affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. Dr. Lee received a medical degree from Stony Brook, State University of New York and completed her Endocrinology Fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to Lilly, Dr. Lee was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Division of Endocrinology with clinical expertise and research focus on type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Rebecca Pearl, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions

Rebecca L. Pearl, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, where she directs the Body Image and Stigma Lab. Her work investigates the health impacts of and interventions to reduce appearance- and health-related stigma, with a primary focus on weight stigma. Her research is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, and she was a recipient of the 2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. She completed her PhD. in clinical psychology at Yale University and her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Michele Tedder, MSN, BSN

Patient Advocate and Senior Program Manager, Black Women’s Health Imperative

Michele Tedder is a nurse educator, health equity strategist, obesity advocate, and person who lives with type 2 diabetes and obesity. She currently serves as senior program manager of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), the only national nonprofit dedicated to the health and wellness of Black women and girls. At BWHI, she has led the creation of the Diabetes Self-Management Support Program curriculum. The Founder and CEO of Village Empowerment Solutions, LLC, she is also a speaker, panelist, and consultant focused on supporting health outcomes of individuals and communities. Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in nursing education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Virginia Valentine, APRN, CDCES
Diabetes Specialist at Clinica La Esperanza

Virginia Valentine, APRN-CNS, BC-ADM, CDCES, FADCES, practices as a diabetes specialist with Clinica la Esperanza in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She manages a wide variety of clinical challenges in diabetes in a primary care group. She is a hub team member with Endo ECHO with the University of New Mexico Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). Ms. Valentine received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing in Oklahoma City. She is board-certified in Advanced Diabetes Management and is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Ms. Valentine was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes by the American Diabetes Association and the New Mexico APRN Nursing Excellence Award in 2019. She has been living well with type 2 diabetes for over 43 years.

MODERATOR

Matthew Garza, BS
Senior Program Manager of dStigmatize, The diaTribe Foundation

Matthew Garza is the Senior Manager of the diaTribe Foundation’s dStigmatize Program. Garza joined diaTribe as an associate in 2020 working on diaTribe Learn and the dSeries Executive Innovation Labs. In 2022, he helped launch the dStigmatize Program. Garza holds a certificate in Effective Writing for Healthcare from Harvard Medical School and a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University with a minor in the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. He has a passion for understanding how stigma impacts health outcomes for marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ population and those living with chronic conditions – including diabetes and obesity.

About diaTribe Musings

Previously known as Musings Under the Moon, when it was a single live event at the ADA Scientific Sessions, diaTribe Musings is now one of The diaTribe Foundation's most treasured ongoing virtual programs, engaging a diverse audience in thought-provoking dialogue and providing an opportunity to connect healthcare providers, business leaders, people living with diabetes, advocates, families, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. Musings tickets are complimentary thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. We welcome anyone interested in learning about the massive shifts and opportunities occurring in the world of diabetes. Please spread the word and share this event with anyone interested in learning more about diabetes. Join the conversation on Twitter with #diaTribeMusings.