Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2017 - 14

77TH SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS NEWS
WIN ADA continued from page 13
The reception began with a brief introduction from Darleen
Sandoval, PhD, professor of surgery and nutrition at the
University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor, who
helped initiate formation of the group. "WIN ADA will be the
first group of its kind in the diabetes field," Dr. Sandoval told
attendees. "On behalf of the Association and all professional
women in diabetes, I am so grateful for your interest in and
support of this group."
The Association's President-elect of Medicine and Science Jane
E. B. Reusch, MD, spoke forcefully about the role of women
in diabetes care, research, and education, as well as the importance of recognizing women's efforts and the need for a deeper
understanding of sex as a biological variable, differences in
diabetes management and complications among women, and the
challenges faced by women in the professional setting.
"Ninety percent of diabetes educators are women, and the
percentage of women in research and medicine has grown

dramatically in recent years," she said. "We need to recognize the
incredible work of women in advancing diabetes research and
care. Women face unique barriers in career development and
achievement just because of their biological sex. We want women
to reach their full potential."
Dr. Reusch described how the group will provide networking,
training, and educational opportunities for women at all stages
of their careers. "Whether you are fresh out of college or graduate school, or an established researcher, clinician, or educator, the
Women's Interprofessional Network of the American Diabetes
Association will be here to support you," she said. The remainder
of the reception consisted of networking and ideasharing among attendees.
The Association is looking forward to expanding the activities
of WIN ADA group. More information will be made available in
the coming months.

Association Holds Fourth Annual Focus on Fellows Meeting in San Diego
Since 2014, the American Diabetes
Association has offered the Focus on
Fellows program for early-career endocrinologists who treat diabetes and its
complications in conjunction with its
annual Scientific Sessions. This year, 135
fellows from nearly 30 states traveled to
San Diego, Calif., to participate in the
program, which was held June 8-9.
The goal of Focus on Fellows is to encourage endocrinology fellows to remain
in the diabetes field. The program provided exclusive opportunities, including
expert-led lectures and panel discussions,
career-building activities, a certified diabetes educator-led hands-on technology
tour of the Scientific Sessions exhibit hall,
and two "Ask the Expert" luncheons.

"Focus on Fellows is an outstanding
program that has undoubtedly helped
engage the next generation of endocrinologists," said Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD,
FACP, a planning committee member
and Chief Medical Officer and Senior
Vice President, Harvard Medical School.
"The fellows enjoyed the experience and,
in particular, the informal opportunities
to interact with faculty."
Networking opportunities between
fellows and senior scientists/clinicians is
another focus of the program. Receptions
and a fellows-only lounge helped to
create an environment for mentoring and
sharing ideas.
"My fellows who attended unanimously
agreed that meeting other fellows and
networking was of great value," said planning committee member Ildiko Lingvay,
MD, MPH, MSCS, Associate Professor,
Department of Internal Medicine, UT
Southwestern Medical Center. "They
felt this program enabled them to attend
Scientific Sessions as well, which they otherwise would not have been able to do."

Focus on Fellows provided several exclusive
opportunities, including the June 9 networking
reception.

Feedback from program participants was
also positive. "It has been great hearing

the career stories of all these physicians
and researchers," said one particpant,
"The program was really interesting, and
I learned a lot about what it takes to have
one's own practice." Said another, "I really
appreciate the focus on career paths and
private practice. As fellows, we often do
not get exposure to this, and it was so
refreshing to hear such a transparent
lecture on private practice."
Focus on Fellows was developed under the guidance of the Early Career
Advisory Group, including, in addition
to Drs. Gabbay and Lingvay, Robert
Eckel, MD, Michael Haller, MD, Kieren
J. Mather, MD, Jane E. B. Reusch, MD,
and Meltem Zeytinoglu, MD, MBA. This
year's Focus on Fellows program was supported by a grant from The Leona M. and
Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Fellows relax after the first day of sessions with
Focus on Fellows moderator Michael Haller, MD.

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