Kerri Sparling

Writer and Author; Living with T1D since 1986

Keynote Address: Living Well with T1D: A Love Story

Kerri Sparling is a writer, poet, and speaker who has dedicated her life to the power of patient narratives. Since 2005, she has been a leading voice in the patient advocacy space, sharing her personal story of over 38 years with type 1 diabetes and helping share stories from others in the patient community. Kerri has worked to bolster the influence of patient stories in the healthcare space, from academic journals to keynote presentations around the world.

She is best known for her work as a patient storyteller at SixUntilMe.com, and as author of Balancing Diabetes (2014), the poetry anthology, Rage Bolus (2021), and Six Until Me: Essays from a life with diabetes (2022). You can subscribe to Kerri’s newsletter at LifeWithType1Diabetes.com.

Brian Colton

Teacher, Providence, RI; Co-Chair, Community Engagement Committee, Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Chapter; Father of son living with T1D since 2013

Brian is a 4th grade teacher in Providence, RI. He resides in Lincoln, RI with his wife Melissa, son Jackson (who lives with T1D) and son Aidan. Brian has over 11 years of experience with T1D both from the perspective of a father and a teacher. Brian has worn a number of hats for the Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Chapter but currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Community Engagement Committee and is the Rhode Island Advocacy Team Chair.   

Molly Colvin, Ph.D. ABPP

Director, LEAP, MGH; Community Board Member, Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Chapter; Mother of a Daughter with T1D since 2014

Session: Developing School Partnerships to Support Learning in Children with T1D

Molly Colvin, Ph.D. ABPP is a developmental neuropsychologist, Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has expertise in the assessment of children and adolescents who have neurodevelopmental and chronic medical conditions and often works closely with schools to develop special education plans. She completed a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience at Dartmouth College, a graduate program in clinical psychology at Suffolk University and postdoctoral clinical training at MGH and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She has been a T1D mom since August 2014.

Amanda Gilchrist

Clinical Trial Education Volunteer, Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Chapter; Living with T1D since 2021; Mom of a daughter living with T1D since 2020

Amanda first became involved with Breakthrough T1D in 2020 when her then 4-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Following her daughter’s diagnosis, Amanda and her family were grateful for the community, education and resources they received from Breakthrough T1D. This support became even more important when Amanda was diagnosed with T1D the following year. 

After learning that many clinical trials are slowed down due to low participation rates, Amanda’s family became involved in this important step to move research forward. As one of Breakthrough T1D’s Clinical Trial Education Volunteers, Amanda is excited to share the importance of clinical trials in T1D research and to encourage others to learn about the many clinical trial options available to them, both locally and virtually. Now with two T1Ds in the family, the Gilchrist's have a lot of clinical trial experience to share! 

Hannah Guevremont

Student at Rhode Island College; Former Children's Congress Delegate; Living with T1D for eight years

Hannah is 19 years old, and currently a student at Rhode Island College, she’s planning on a career in nursing as a diabetes educator. She has lived with T1D for eight years, diagnosed at 11. Hannah and her family have promoted T1D awareness in their community for many years through their One Walk team, Hannah’s Knights, which has been recognized as a top family team. Hannah has also spoken to her Members of Congress and at school and church about life with T1D.  She is thankful for life-changing T1D technology advances and Hannah looks forward to continuing to advocate for everyone in the T1D community.

Michelle LeBeau

Member, Breakthrough T1D Golf Committee; Living with T1D

Michelle LeBeau is a longtime supporter of Breakthrough T1D and a Rhode Island resident who plays an integral role on our chapter’s Golf Committee. She has been volunteering since the early days of our Rhode Island and Bay State chapters, now the Greater New England chapter. Since 2016, Michelle has served as the Procurement Chair for our annual Tee Up Golf Classic. As a member of the T1D community, Michelle has powerfully shared her story during the Fund A Cure portion of the tournament and through her outreach efforts across the Greater New England area and beyond.