Due to the incredible volume of votes in our Diabetes Educator Of The Year Contest, we extended a winner’s runoff for the top five finalists. Now you have a second chance to vote for your favorite diabetes educator and help them win a luxurious vacation in sunny South Florida for a 3 day / 2 night stay at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Here are the finalists (listed alphabetically), and remember – voting ends on February 15, 2008, and the winner announced on March 1, 2008!
Dr. Richard K. Bernstein
Richard K. Bernstein, M.D. has educated people with diabetes since the mid 1970’s, before titles like CDE, or groups such as the AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators) even existed. His efforts have been critical in the development of modern diabetes self-management practices and technologies. He has helped thousands of patients over the years, and continues to reach even more through the six books he has authored, and via his monthly teleconference at www.diabetesincontrol.com.
Marcia D. Draheim
Marcia D. Draheim became a Certified Diabetes Educator 17 years ago when she realized, as a CDE, she could provide better information to and create self-management tools for her patients with diabetes. One of her eventual goals is to become President of the AADE (American Association of Diabetes Educators). Marcia says the most rewarding aspect of being a CDE is helping her patients realize that with proper self-management their lifestyles are no different than that of anyone else.
Fran Kiger
Fran Kiger, RN, CDE, is a co-founder of the Diabetes Care Center of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in 1988. Some of the biggest perks of her job include seeing a patient with an A1C level of 6.2%. After diabetes affected some members of her family, Fran decided to become a certified diabetes educator, and dedicates her days to helping people with diabetes empower themselves, and realize their true potential.
Barbara J. (Clay) Odom
Barbara J. (Clay) Odom, a U.S. Navy Veteran and Registered Nurse of 36 years, became a Certified Diabetes Educator in 1985. She retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in June 2001, and she now volunteers independently in the San Diego community and nationwide. Barbara facilitates a monthly support group in Southeast San Diego, and enjoys helping others through workshop presentations on diabetes and other health concerns at churches, community groups and health fairs.
Dr. Mary C. Vernon
Dr. Mary C. Vernon, M.D., C.M.D., is a nationally recognized expert on low-carbohydrate dieting and its benefits on diabetes management, especially for Type 2 diabetics. She appears regularly in the media, and has been published numerous times in magazines such as “Men’s Health”. She is a major proponent of the Atkins Diet and serves as a member of the Atkins Physicians Council, as well as maintaining a private practice in Lawrence, Kansas.
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