Derek Rapp

Keynote Speaker

Former President and CEO of Breakthrough T1D International

Derek Rapp

Global Mission Board Member, Director Emeritus, and Immediate Past President & CEO of Breakthrough T1D

Derek Rapp is a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners, a venture capital firm in St. Louis, MO that focuses on early-stage investing in biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. Derek joined RiverVest in September of 2019.

From July of 2014 to May of 2019, Derek served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough T1D. In his time leading Breakthrough T1D, the organization strengthened its performance on many measures, including financial, driving of impactful research for people with T1D, and advocacy of critical issues such as T1D research funding by governments, consideration and approval by regulatory bodies of novel T1D therapies, and the improved access to therapies. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Derek served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for Breakthrough T1D International and was formerly Breakthrough T1D Research Chair. He has been involved in the research funding and oversight activities of Breakthrough T1D since 2005.

From early 2001 until February 2011, Derek was Chief Executive Officer of Divergence, Inc., a science-based company finding solutions in the prevention and control of parasitic infections. He led the successful sale of the company in February 2011.

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University with concentrations in Economics and German and a Master in Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Derek is married to Emily Rapp, and they have three children (Helen, Turner, who was diagnosed with T1D in 2004, and William) and a son-in-law (Ian).

Erin Akers

Special Guest

CEO and Founder of DBH

After struggling with Diabulimia off and on for a decade, Erin created the oldest and longest-running support group for diabulimia in 2008 and then went on to found Diabulimia Helpline in 2009, the world's first non-profit organization dedicated to support, awareness and advocacy for those struggling with diabetes and eating disorders. She uses the extensive knowledge about the emotional and behavioral aspects of diabetes and how they connect to food and body issues she has gained to train eating disorder centers and implement a diabulimia program across the country, as well as speaking at diabetes clinics all over the U.S.  Erin can be found in numerous publications, such as Diabetes Forecast, Diabetes Health,  Diabetes care, and PLAID. She has also appeared on Huffington Post Live, NBC News, and Discovery Health Channel.  She launched the Healthcare Professionals Education series in January 2013 to target diabetes professionals, and their lack of understanding about eating disorders. She consulted for Duke University on a research project investigating behavioral triggers around food and insulin in type 1 diabetics.  Erin is a member of Diabetes Advocates, Binge Eating Disorder Association, a National Eating Disorder Association partner and an Americans for Access Board member.

Holger Russ, PhD

Breakthrough T1D Research Update Presenter

T1D Research Scientist

The emphasis of Dr.Russ`s research is on understanding the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms resulting in autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) in humans, with a focus on the insulin-producing beta cells. During his career, Dr. Russ successfully worked on different aspects of T1D, which led to several original and important contributions to the fields of beta-, thymus- and stem cell- biology. After completing his Diploma thesis in Heidelberg/Germany, Dr. Russ obtained his Ph.D. from Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University/Israel followed by postdoctoral work at the Diabetes Center at the University of California- San Francisco. Thereafter he established his independent research program at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at UC- Anschutz Medical Campus. His lab employs state of the art human stem cell technology and primary human cell culture with genome engineering approaches to model and eventually treat patients suffering from diabetes. Dr.Russ`s long term goal is to find a cure for patients suffering from diabetes, maintain a productive and extramural funded research program, train and enable the next generation of scientists focused on T1D research; and take responsibility for developing and/or maintaining a cutting-edge diabetes research program.

Brigitte Frohnert, MD

Presenter

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - Barbara Davis Center

My research interest is in understanding the environmental factors which contribute to the development of islet autoimmunity and progression to type 1 diabetes, with the ultimate goal of preventing type 1 diabetes in the future. In 2014, I joined investigators on two large epidemiologic studies: DAISY (Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young) and TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young following over 8,500 children and collecting a wide array of data on dietary, infectious and other exposures. With a background in molecular biology and biochemistry, I am interested in the use and integration of ‘omics data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) to generate new insights into the disease processes.

As a clinician, I am interested in the management of children identified early in diabetes progression, often through participation in longitudinal studies, and the special challenges involved in the care of very young children with type 1 diabetes.

Sean Oser, MD, MPH

Presenter

Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Sean M. Oser, MD, MPH, has lived with type one diabetes for over 30 years. Diagnosed
just after graduating high school, Dr. Oser has successfully navigated college, medical
school, graduate school, residency, and both community and faculty clinical and
research positions, all while also self-managing type one diabetes. He is currently
Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine and Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine with Penn State
College of Medicine. Dr. Oser is a family physician with an active clinical practice
including type one diabetes as well as type two diabetes and all other clinical conditions,
with patients at every age along the lifespan. He and his wife, Tamara K. Oser, MD,
began conducting type one diabetes research shortly after their daughter, Jessica, was
diagnosed with T1D over 10 years ago at the age of seven. His research interests
include peer support, especially online peer support, as well as bringing the best
treatments and technologies to primary care so that they can reach more people in
more areas, including rural locations where specialty care is difficult or even impossible
to access, but where primary care is much more readily available. A key professional
goal is to decrease the disparities in available care and resources between specialty
and primary care, as over 90% of all people with diabetes (and over 50% of people with
T1D) receive their diabetes care from primary care practices. He has presented at
numerous national and international conferences. Last year, he co-chaired a large,
interdisciplinary workshop sponsored by Breakthrough T1D and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley
Charitable Trust, bringing together key stakeholders from across the diabetes care
spectrum to discuss available resources, gaps, and needs in the care of people with
diabetes across the nation.

Tamara Oser, MD

Presenter

Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado

Tamara Oser, MD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado
School of Medicine and a Clinical Professor at Penn State College of Medicine. As a clinician, she
cares for many patients with diabetes. She has been inducted into Best Doctors in America and
achieved the ninety-ninth percentile for patient satisfaction nationwide. She is Director of the
High Plains Research Network, one of the oldest and most active practice-based research
networks that spans 16 counties in Eastern Colorado. She is also active in teaching and has
received numerous teaching awards including the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
three times. Dr. Oser is a clinician scientist with a research focus on utilizing social media to
better understand barriers and facilitators to self-management among those living with T1D,
peer support in T1D, and integrating diabetes technologies into primary care. She is faculty with
Children with Diabetes, has been a Breakthrough T1D mentor, and served as Captain of Team Jessica- a top
Breakthrough T1D fundraising team in Central Pennsylvania. Most importantly, she is wife to Sean Oser, MD
who has lived with T1D for over 30 years, and mom to twins Courtney and Jessica (age 17).
Jessica was diagnosed with T1D shortly after turning seven. She has seen firsthand that
although there are challenges, diabetes is also her husband’s and daughter’s greatest strength.

Kimber Simmons, MD

Presenter

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - Barbara Davis Center

My overall career goal is to become an independent physician scientist studying the clinical immunology of autoimmune disease, with a focus on type 1 diabetes (T1D), who will make a fundamental contribution to the prevention of and ultimately a cure for T1D. My current research interests are to screen children in the general population for islet autoantibodies (early T1D), hone techniques to study the immune cells that participate in the pathogenesis of T1D and participate as an investigator in prevention trials with the goal of finding an intervention that can modulate the autoimmune attack in the pancreas.

Sonya Walker, RN, BSN, CDE, MBA

Speaker

Nurse, Diabetes Educator

Sonya Walker, RN, BSN, CDE, MBA, has been working in the field of diabetes since 2009, and managing her own diabetes since 1998.  She originally started her nursing career at the Barbara Davis Center and returned there a few years ago after moving out of state and working for Dexcom for several years.  Sonya is especially interested in diabetes technology and research involving new technology, particularly with respect to continuous glucose monitoring and hybrid closed loop systems.

Jaimie Wolfelt

KidNation and TeenNation Speaker

Author, Student

Jaimie A. Wolfelt is a student at Regis University in the Master of Arts in Counseling program. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of ten; and has volunteered at diabetes camps for the last five years. Jaimie has written a coloring book for children living with T1D and is currently working on a book for teens. She hopes to continue to create more resources and eventually work as a counselor with children, teens, and families living with type one diabetes.

Sarah Mart, MS, MPH

Presenter

Director of Operations, DiabetesSisters

Sarah joined DiabetesSisters as Director of Operations in 2016 and is responsible for major signature programs including the Part of DiabetesSisters (PODS) Meetup program, with 60 volunteer leaders nationwide facilitating peer support meetings in more than 40 locations in person and online; the annual DiabetesSisters Leadership Institute; and Minority Initiative seminars focused on strategies for healthy living for African American, Hispanic, or South Asian women living with any type of diabetes or prediabetes.

Sarah also has extensive experience in public health policy research, writing, speaking, and organizing, with more than 15 years at a public health think tank and in higher education directing strategic prevention and health promotion initiatives. She received her Master of Public Health from the University of Northern Colorado, Master of Science in Women’s Studies from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from The University of Montana-Missoula. She is an advocate for public health, social justice, and people with chronic health concerns.

Sarah was diagnosed with diabetes in June 1980. She has used an insulin pump for more than 35 years; a continuous glucose monitor for more than 10 years, and a DIY open-source Loop system for more than 2 years. She attended diabetes camp as a kid and has been active in the diabetes online community for ten years. She works and lives in Fort Collins, CO with her wife, their daughter, and rescue pup Maizie.

Theresa Hastings, PWD

Presenter

T1D Advocate, Breakthrough T1D Volunteer, DiabetesSisters PODS Leader

Theresa has lived with type 1 diabetes since September 1998. She and a friend brought DiabetesSisters PODS meet ups to the Denver area in 2014 and continues to lead the monthly local meet ups. Since September 2017, she has been using a DIY closed loop system and assists fellow users in troubleshooting both online and in person. She is passionate about educating her fellow persons with diabetes and empowering them to achieve optimal care based on their personal needs. She holds a certificate of Diabetes Paraprofessional from the ADCES (formerly AADE).

She has thrived through a marriage of 14 years and two pregnancies with type 1 diabetes. She has two amazing, witty, and smart children. She enjoys hiking and camping with her family and watching Netflix while snuggled up on the couch with Rocky, the Cockapoo.

Christine Fallabel, MPH

Expert Panelist

Director of State Government Affairs and Advocacy for The American Diabetes Association

Christine Fallabel is the Director of State Government Affairs and Advocacy for The American Diabetes Association, covering the 9 state Rocky Mountain and Heartland regions. In her role, she leads all legislative and regulatory work for the Association.

Prior to her work at the ADA, she held positions with Colorado Medicaid, the Colorado State Health Department, and was a social worker in Philadelphia before moving west. She earned her Master of Public Health from Temple University.

She is currently a Governor Polis appointee on the Council for Active and Healthy Living, serving a three year term. In her spare time, she likes to trail run with her husband and tinker with her DIY Looping system. She’s lived with type 1 diabetes for 19 years.

Masha Mikulinsky

Presenter

MA, LPCC, Somatic Psychotherapy

Masha Mikulinsky, MA, LPC is a Boulder/Denver based Somatic Psychotherapist specializing in working with teenagers, young adults, adults, and their families to support living with Type I diabetes. She has 15 years of experience practicing integrative mindfulness and body-mind psychotherapy techniques tailored to the specific challenges of day-to-day life with diabetes, its impact on the emotional terrain, job performance, and personal relationships. in the cultural context of each individual. She uses strengths based, trauma informed, resilience building approaches with emphasis on sociocultural context, bringing personal experience of over 25 years of living with Type I diabetes herself. Masha is committed to a multiculturally competent therapeutic approach, specializing in mindfulness based somatic psychotherapy with additional training in DBT, Hakomi, Trauma/Tension Release Exercises, and Motivational Interviewing. Folks within the LGBTQI spectrum warmly welcomed. Masha offers therapy in English, Spanish, and Russian.