DiabetesSisters Director of Operations Sarah Mart, along with advocates Cindy Campaniello, Corinna Cornejo, Phyllisa Deroze, Shailja Mathur, Leah Mayne, and Sue Rericha, represented DiabetesSisters at the Bridging the Chasm between Pregnancy and Women’s Health over the Life Course conference at Boston University in July 2018.

The Bridging the Chasm conference was the end result of a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) project, designed to bring together patients, providers, advocates, clinician-scientists, and health system leaders to share expertise and devise a national strategy for research and action to bridge the chasm between women’s reproductive and ongoing primary care. The conference focused on gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes as case in point for reflection, planning, and future action.

Sarah provided introductory remarks about DiabetesSisters and served as a small group facilitator during the conference. Dr. Deroze served on the group of esteemed keynote panelists, and DiabetesSisters advocates shared their stories in small and large group settings during the two-day gathering.

Read blog posts from Corinna, Sue, and Dr. Deroze about their experiences at the conference here:

• Gestational Diabetes: The Canary in the Coal Mine
• Educating and Advocating for Ourselves - Gestational and Type 2
• Bridging the Chasm: Birth Trauma, PTSD, and Two Types of Diabetes