Breakthrough T1D Community Summit | NYC
April 18, 2026, New York City, NY
11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Eastern Time)
About
The Breakthrough T1D Community Summit is an educational and networking opportunity for all those impacted by type 1 diabetes (T1D). This year, the Breakthrough T1D Community Summit will bring our community together to learn from T1D experts, hear about the latest breakthroughs in T1D research, meet vendor exhibitors, connect with others impacted by T1D, and more. We look forward to having you join us!
All attendees will receive all day admission tickets to the Bronx Zoo!
Getting to the Event
DIRECTIONS TO SOUTHERN BOULEVARD PARKING LOT
The following driving directions are to the closest parking lot to our event
space, Parking Lot C at Southern Boulevard. It is required to park in this lot, as
other lots will be closed during events. Please follow these specific directions
and not the signs to the “Bronx Zoo Parking” on the highways.
FOR DRIVERS USING GPS For the Southern Boulevard entrance, please plug
the following address into your GPS unit: 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY
10460.
FROM MANHATTAN’S EASTSIDE
FDR Drive North to the RFK Bridge (formerly the Triboro Bridge). Follow signs to
the Bronx and the Bruckner Expressway. Take Bruckner towards New Haven
(stay left); after drawbridge, exit right for the Bronx River Parkway North. Take
exit 7W for Fordham Rd/US-1 S. Make a slight right onto E. Fordham Rd. At the
Traffic light, make a left onto Southern Boulevard. After approximately ¾ of a
mile, make a left onto E. 182nd Street. Make a left onto Crotona Parkway and
enter the Southern Blvd Entrance (Gate C). DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
FROM MANHATTAN’S WESTSIDE
Henry Hudson North to Mosholu Parkway (Exit 24). After about 2 miles, the
Mosholu turns into a local road with stoplights. After 8th stoplight, turn right
onto Dr. Kazimiroff Blvd, which becomes Southern Blvd. The Zoo is
approximately 2 miles down on the left. Make a left onto E. 182nd Street. Make
a left onto Crotona Parkway and enter the Southern Boulevard entrance (Gate
C). DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
FROM WESTCHESTER
*Taconic State Parkway into Sprain Brook Parkway South to Bronx River
Parkway South
*Saw Mill River Parkway or I-87 to Cross County Parkway East to Bronx River
Parkway South
*I-684 or Hutchinson River Parkway to Cross County Parkway West to Bronx
River Parkway South
From the Bronx River Parkway South, take exit 7W for Fordham Rd/US-1 S.
Make a slight right onto E Fordham Rd. At thetraffic light, make a left onto
Southern Boulevard. After approximately ¾ of a mile, make a left onto E 182nd
Street. Make aleft onto Crotona Parkway and enter the Southern Blvd
Entrance (Gate C). DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
FROM CONNECTICUT
Take I-95 South to Pelham Parkway West. Or take Merritt Parkway South to
Hutchinson River Parkway South to Pelham Parkway West.
Follow Pelham Parkway West for 2 miles. Continue on E Fordham Rd/US-1 S
for ½ a mile. Make a slight right onto E Fordham Rd. At the traffic light, make a
left onto Southern Boulevard. After approximately ¾ of a mile, make a left
onto E 182nd Street. Make a left onto Crotona Parkway and enter the Southern
Blvd Entrance, Gate C. DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
FROM NEW JERSEY
Take GW Bridge to the Henry Hudson north (9A) to Mosholu Parkway (Exit 24).
After the 8th stoplight, turn right onto Dr. Kazimiroff Blvd, which turns into
Southern Blvd. The Zoo is approximately 2 miles down on the left. Make a left
onto E 182nd Street. Make a left onto Crotona Parkway and enter the Southern
Blvd Entrance (Gate C). DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
FROM BROOKLYN, QUEENS OR LONG ISLAND
Whitestone Bridge to Hutchinson River Parkway North to Pelham Parkway
West. Follow Pelham Parkway West for 2 miles. Continue on E Fordham
Rd/US-1 S for ½ a mile. Make a slight right onto E Fordham Rd. At the traffic
light, make a left onto Southern Boulevard. After approximately ¾ of a mile,
make a left onto E. 182nd Street. Make a left onto Crotona Parkway and enter
the Southern Blvd Entrance (Gate C). DO NOT TAKE EXIT 6!
Schedule
Registration and Vendor Fair
Welcome Message
McKenzie Dunleavy and Jason Rice
Keynote Speaker
Gary Scheiner – “The Amazing Evolution of Diabetes Care”
For those who think we’ve failed because we still don’t have a “cure”, think again! Enjoy an amusing (and humbling) tour of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed in the treatment of type-1 diabetes, complete with “show and tell”. You’ll be amazed at how far we’ve come! An award-winning Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, Master’s-level Exercise Physiologist, and person with type-1 diabetes since 1985, Gary Scheiner has dedicated his professional life to improving the lives of people with insulin-dependent diabetes. He was named 2014 Diabetes Educator of the Year by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Benedictine University. He received his diabetes training with the world-renowned Joslin Diabetes Center. Gary serves on the faculty of several prominent organizations and the clinical advisory boards for a number of diabetes device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies
Speakers
Melissa Walnock – “Managing T1D in the Culinary World”
Melissa is the Associate Dean of Baking and Pastry Arts here at the Culinary Institute of America. Her passion for cuisine started in childhood after she was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. Utilizing her care and concern of food from living with T1D and coupling it with her love for art and creativity, she has made a name for herself in the culinary world. Since receiving her degree she has worked at some of the finest restaurants in the United States, including pastry chef at Nicholas in Red Bank, NJ and Tabla in New York City; pastry chef de partie at The French Laundry in Yountville, CA; pastry sous chef at Jean-Georges V Steakhouse and head of production at Jean-Georges in NYC; and pastry cook at Union Square Café in New York City and The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. Recently, Chef Walnock appeared on Netflix’s Next Gen Chef series filmed at the Culinary Institute of America.
Peter Friedfeld – “ Bringing Wisdom to Life with Diabetes”
Peter was diagnosed with T1D at 56. He is the co-founder and facilitator with the DiabetesSangha, dedicated to sharing his experiences in living a more thoughtful and engaged life with T1D with others. Peter is also the executive consultant to the new film, Pay or Die, regarding the insulin crisis in America.