……And the answer is–Who is James R. Gavin III.
Dr. Gavin is more than just an endocrinologist and a specialist in diabetes and metabolism; he is a worldwide advocate on changing the landscape of diabetes and he is going at it full steam. when he speaks it is as almost as if you are at a revival meeting, not a lecture. His passion and discussions on changing the landscape of diabetes is not only inspirational, it will leave you in jaw-dropping awe.
He is a former president of the American Diabetes Association, recipient of the Banting Medal for Distinguished Service, and in 1991 received the Association’s Clinician of the Year award for his contributions to diabetes care.
Dr. Gavin (with a PhD and MD) played a critical role as medical expert in Kapche v. Holder, a case that involved a challenge to a federal agency of the United States for people with insulin-treated diabetes, which, as a professional expert refused to take payment for his testimony because he so believed in the cause. He is not afraid to take on diabetes and his education informing the world that diabetes (all diabetes) does not care about color, race, or religion is a breath of fresh air.
The walls he has knocked down are incredible and he is a firm believer of educating ANYone who will listen; from me when I was at dLife to The First Lady of the United States (where he is Chairman of her partnership for a Healthier American Partnership).
This is taken from his Bio at the American Diabetes Association:
James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD is a noted leader in the field of diabetes, serving as CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Healing Our Village, Inc, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Gavin is a former president of the American Diabetes Association, recipient of the Banting Medal for Distinguished Service, and in 1991 received the Association’s Clinician of the Year award for his contributions to diabetes care. In 2010, Dr. Gavin, along with the rest of the Kapche Litigation Team, received the Association’s Public Policy Leadership Award for his work in defending the right of people with diabetes to live free of discrimination.
For Diabetes Awareness Month:
This month, I will be highlighting someone in the diabetes community. They may be people you know, or might not know, but they give of themselves to make this world, our world, with diabetes a special place. I will not get to everyone this month, but it is my hope that perhaps you can be introduced to some of those you may not know.
I’m certainly not the definitive on who should be included….you are. If you think I should include someone, shoot me an email at tkarlya@drif.org and I will do what I can to include that person as well. Welcome to diabetes awareness month.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.
One reply on “Diabetes Jeopardy Answer #16 for D-Month: From the White House to Across the Table; His Pulpit is Life, his Message is Diabetes.”
I remember being at a convention, not long after my diagnosis, where he spoke, and he was very definite that T2 diabetes does NOT skip a generation. That was one of my first inklings that maybe I didn’t have T2, because my mother remained diabetes-free until she died at the age of 80, whereas my grandmother had diabetes of type unknown. So then the realities of my diabetes began to make sense — I didn’t respond to the sulfonylureas (we tried 2 different ones), and insulin worked just fine at reasonable doses, and I wasn’t obese. Nowadays, I realize that I most likely have LADA, which was unheard of in those days. But the definition fits! 🙂