Amy Hess-Fischl

Chair

Amy currently works as the teen transition program coordinator at the University of Chicago’s Kovler Diabetes Center in Chicago, Illinois, working with children, adolescents and teenagers with diabetes. Past DCE positions include Regional Network Representative, Treasurer, Newsflash Editor, and Technology Task Force Chair. She is on the committee for the annual American Diabetes Association Diabetes Expo in Chicago, working in the Youth Zone; is a CE reviewer for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and is an auditor for the American Diabetes Association’s Recognition Program.  She lives in Chicago and enjoys scuba diving with sharks.

Andrea Dunn

Print Communications Coordinator

Andrea is an Advanced Practice Registered Dietitian at The Cleveland Clinic Westlake Family Health Center, Westlake, Ohio. She also works prn as a Home Health Care Dietitian for a Gestational Diabetes Program.  Dunn has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since 2000. She holds membership in: American Dietetic Association, Ohio Dietetic Association, Cleveland Dietetic Association, Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Diabetes Association and ADA Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group. She has served as Newsflash Newsletter Editor and Publications Chair for DCE. Dunn is on the Advisory Board for the Heart Advisor Newsletter. She served as an ADA Fact Sheet Review Panel Member, in 2006 and an abstract reviewer for the 2008 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions. Andrea is secretary for the Pastoral Council of her church. Her hobbies include dog training with her Labrador retriever, Mia.

Molly Gee

Past Chair/Industry Relations Chair

Molly is the project leader at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX for LOOKAHEAD, a NIH multi-center clinical trial examining the cardiovascular benefits of sustained weight loss in people with Type 2 diabetes. She is a communications consultant with more than 25 years experience in health/nutrition communications and the clinical management of obesity.  She serves as a media spokesperson, speaker and consultant for healthcare organizations and industry. She has been widely quoted in the media for her ability to translate science into everyday practical tips for the public. She served on the ADA Board as Director at Large and Treasurer.  In 2004, she received the ADA Medallion award.  She is the co-founder and past chair of the ADA’s Weight Management Dietetics Practice Group (DPG) and is on the Executive Committee of the Diabetes Care and Education DPG. She serves as Chair of Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) Weight Management Certificate Committee and as faculty for the Weight Management Certificate Workshop.

Carolyn Harrington

Secretary

Carolyn is the Program Coordinator for the Aspirus Diabetes Education Center and Aspirus Nutrition Counseling department in Wausau, WI.  She sees patients with all types of diabetes and specializes in helping those using insulin pumps.  She is a Certified Pump Trainer, including use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring.  Her past experiences with DCE are as the Reimbursement Chair and the Mentor Program Chair.  She has been involved with JADA as a manuscript draft reviewer and with AADE on the Continuing Education Approver Unit.  Carolyn is active in the Wisconsin Dietetic Association as the MNT Representative.  She is a retired LCDR, MSC, USNR after serving for 22 years (3 years active duty and 19 years reserve).  She lives with her family on the Wisconsin River and enjoys snowshoeing, kayaking, gardening and simply being outdoors.

Amber Wamhoff

Treasurer

Amber Wamhoff, MA, RD, LD, CDE has more than 25 years of experience with diabetes patient management and diabetes program development. She is the President of Nutrition Exchange, an independent diabetes consultant to physicians, community organizations and individuals. She currently works for Washington University Clinical Associates, an Endocrinology Medical Specialty Practice in Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri. She is involved in community service promoting health and disease prevention with the local YMCA and American Diabetes Association, St. Louis Chapter. Amber is past-president of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and serves as the reimbursement chair for the Diabetes Care and Education Practice group of the American Dietetic Association. Amber has presented diabetes education programs to professionals locally and internationally. She has presented professional workshops in Africa, Asia, and the United States. Amber was awarded the 2008 St. Louis Diabetes Educator award and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital President’s Award for Service Excellence.

Judy Giusti

Membership Coordinator

Judy Giusti, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, is employed as a Clinical Education Manager in the Affiliated Programs at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, MA. She has provided nutrition and diabetes self-management education to individuals and groups; worked in two, national, weight-loss studies, the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Studies and the Look Ahead Study, and has developed and implemented classes for a geriatric diabetes study. She has authored education materials for educators and patients, and has served as Theme Editor for the DCE issue of “On the Cutting Edge” on Diabetes and the Older Adult, and has also been a member of the DCE Networking Committee. She is a lead facilitator for the U. S. Diabetes Conversation Maps. Judy has been named Outstanding Dietitian of the Year 2011 by the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. Judy has served on the Board of Chapter President’s Council of AADE, and the Chapter Presidents’ Advisory Committee, and is a past president of Diabetes Educators of Eastern Massachusetts. Judy and her husband, Dick, enjoy golf and tennis, and family activities.

Liz Quintana

Print Communications Coordinator

On the faculty of West Virginia University School of Medicine, Liz counsels patients in adult endocrinology and the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. She teaches a web-based course for school teachers. She collaborates with the Department of Exercise Physiology in providing a weight management program and the WVU Extension Service in offering the DIning with Diabetes Program. Liz received her undergraduate and master's degrees in nutrition from the NY State University College at Plattsburgh and Texas Tech University. She completed her dietetic internship from the Bronx VA Hospital. Her doctoral degree is from WVU in Technology Education with emphasis on adult health care. Certified as a Diabetes Educator and in Adult Weight Management, Liz is enrolled in the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology at WVU. She enjoys herb gardening, yoga, and back-packing.

Susie Wang

Electronic Communications Coordinator

Susie is currently employed as a RD/CDE in the diabetes program in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department of Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland, WA.  Previous she worked for almost 20 years at an adult endocrinology practice as well as doing some per diem work at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA and as a pump and sensor trainer. Susie has served as the DCE Electronics Communications Chair since 2008.  She has been also active in her state AADE chapter, starting their website and serving in various capacities such as President, Treasurer, and Membership chair.  She lives near Seattle with her husband and her twin girls.  In addition she has two adult sons living in Arizona.

Lisa Brown

Professional Development Coordinator

Lisa own her own private practice. She has worked as a hospital administrative & clinical dietitian, consultant dietitian in transitional care, long term care & group homes, as part of an eating disorders team & diabetes education teams. Lisa worked with the athletic teams and taught nutrition classes for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Anoka Ramsey Community College. She also enjoyed her 10 years as a public health dietitian for special needs children. Lisa has provided many presentations and wrote grants for special community education projects. She is currently the newsletter editor for the Red River Diabetes Educators Group in Fargo, North Dakota, the program chair for the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Expo in Minneapolis and part of the local Celiac Support Group.

Susan Yake

Public Policy Liaison

Susan Yake, RD, CD, CDDE, CLC is has been Clinical Dietitian for the U.S. Navy for 25 years in the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Dietetics and later became a Diabetes Educator in 1991. Susan instructs classes, counsels patients, conducts a bariatric surgery screen, and uses Lifestyle Eating and Performance Program to treat her patients with food sensitivities. An interest of hers is the evolving science of functional medicine as it relates to nutrition and gene expression. Susan has on several awards for her political activities and has been a past member of the ADA PAC Board, a LNC for WSDA, a State Delegate, and currently serves on the WSDA Public Policy Panel. Susan lives with her husband and talking bird named Ferdy in Bremerton, Washington. Her hobbies are photography, scrapbooking, weightlifiting, snowshoeing, and genealogy.

Maggie Powers

Research Coordinator

Dr. Powers is a registered dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with a Ph.D. in Training and Performance Improvement. She is a Research Scientist at the International Diabetes Center where her research focuses on performance improvement with organizations and individuals to improve diabetes outcomes. Dr. Powers is pioneering work with continuous glucose monitoring to study the glycemic response of food. She is also principal investigator on three studies to further understand diabetes and eating disorders. Dr. Powers is internationally recognized for her contributions to diabetes education and the role of nutrition in improving the lives of people with diabetes. She has published five books, authored numerous articles, published research, and is an international presenter.

Maryann Meade

Dietetic Practice Group Delegate

Maryann is the owner of Maryann Meade & Associates, a private practice with three locations. She and her associate provide medical nutrition therapy for individuals referred through their physician. Her practice also provides services for two VNA agencies, two drug and alcohol facilities and worksite programs.Professionally Maryann has served as president of the Connecticut Dietetic Association and as an affiliate delegate to ADA’s House of Delegates. She served on the board of Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG and was their Chair in 2003. She is a member of AADE and the CT. Association of Diabetes Educators. Prior to holding her current DCE office she was ADA Delegate for Business and Consultation. Maryann enjoys singing with the community chorus, ballroom dancing, theatre, reading, cross country skiing, cooking in her new kitchen, and her three children and 7 grandchildren .

Patti Urbanski

Nominating Committee Chair

Patti currently works as the coordinator of the diabetes education program and a nutrition and diabetes specialist at the Duluth Family Medicine Residency Program in Duluth, Minnesota. Previous work positions include chief clinical dietitian and diabetes program coordinator at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, and pediatric dietitian at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. Patti’s past experience with DCE include serving as Chair and Past Chair/ Industry Relations Chair, Reimbursement Committee chair, On the Cutting Edge editor and Communications Coordinator. Patti earned a bachelor of science degree in clinical nutrition from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Education degree in adult education from the University of Minnesota. Patti and her husband Tom live in Cloquet, Minnesota, and enjoy gardening, biking, cross-country skiing and traveling.

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