Raleigh, NC (JANUARY 23, 2018):DiabetesSisters is pleased to announce the election of two highly esteemed physicians, Rita Kalyani, MD and Frank Lavernia, MD, to its Board of Directors, effective January 19, 2018. As Board Members, Dr. Kalyani and Dr. Lavernia will join existing board members in setting DiabetesSisters-related policies, fundraising, and representing the organization to the community.
Dr. Rita Kalyani is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. She graduated with an undergraduate degree from Harvard College and completed her medical degree, residency, and fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Kalyani is an active clinician in the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Diabetes Center. She directs the Diabetes Management Service for Johns Hopkins’ Total Pancreatectomy Islet Auto Transplant Program. Dr. Kalyani is NIH-funded for her research on diabetes and aging and sex differences in diabetes. She is past Chair of the American Diabetes Association’s Professional Practice Committee, which is responsible for establishing clinical practice guidelines for the care of all people with diabetes in the annual document: “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes”.
Dr. Kalyani is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Johns Hopkins Diabetes POC-IT Guide for health care professionals and the Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes. She is actively involved in public education and diabetes awareness efforts, including appearances on national television and radio. She was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2017.
Dr. Lavernia has been a practicing diabetologist in South Florida for over 35 years. He was the founder and director of the North Broward Diabetes Center in Florida. He is an adjunct faculty member of the National Diabetes Education Initiative (NDEI), Vascular Biology Working Group (VBWG), and for the Coalition for the Advancement of Cardiovascular Health (COACH). He is also a member of the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and the National Hispanic Medical Association.
Dr. Lavernia lectures nationally and internationally on obesity, pre-diabetes, diabetes and their complications; he also speaks on lipid and hypertension disorders. He presents at Pri-Meds, American College of Physicians, NACE, PCN, and ADA programs, and has lectured extensively in St. Maarten, St. Eustatius (Statia), St. Croix, St. Thomas, Bermuda, Çuracao, and Aruba. He has published multiple articles in a variety of national medical journals and online publications and has appeared on national television and radio. He most recently completed various CME videos for the American Diabetes Association.
“We welcome the expertise and experience that Drs. Kalyani and Lavernia bring to DiabetesSisters’ Board of Directors. Through their leadership, we will further the organization’s mission and reach more women with diabetes in need of our programs and services,” said Anna Norton, MS, CEO of DiabetesSisters.
About DiabetesSisters:
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DiabetesSisters is the only organization nationwide focusing exclusively on women living with diabetes. Our mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with and at risk of developing diabetes and to advocate on their behalf. DiabetesSisters has a 20,000 member peer support network that united women with diabetes for the purpose of support, education, and advocacy. Signature programs include monthly peer support meetings (PODS Meetups); the Minority Initiative Program; online blogs, forums, and expert articles; and conferences throughout the US. For more information, visit http://www.diabetessisters.org.