Clinician Education & Training
Professional development for dietitians, CDCES preparation, clinician coaching, healthcare leadership, entrepreneurship for clinicians. Career growth, leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship, clinician coaching, speaking, and workforce development.
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Three Takeaways From ADA Clinical Updates: Turning Standards Into Practice
If you work in diabetes care and education and are a member of the American Diabetes Association, you’ve likely received the nearly 400-page Standards of Care journal in your mailbox. What began as a three-page reference document in 1989 has grown into a comprehensive resource that now rivals a phonebook. The depth of guidance is incredibly valuable, but translating all of those standards into day-to-day clinical practice can feel a bit daunting. Enter the ADA Clinical Updates Conference, an important piece of the puzzle that focuses on moving evidence off the page and into real-world care. After spending the weekend…
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New Year, Evolving Needs: Diabetes Care Services for 2026
Diabetes care continues to evolve quickly, and by 2026 many clinicians and organizations are feeling the strain of doing more with fewer resources. Workforce shortages, rapid advances in medications and technology, and growing expectations for outcomes have changed what day-to-day diabetes care looks like. Over the past year, I have spent time listening closely to patients, clinicians, and care teams, and refining my services to better reflect these realities. My goal is to offer practical, evidence-based support that feels truly helpful in today’s care environment. My updated services are designed to support clinicians, strengthen programs, and expand access to high-quality,…
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Are You Ready to Lead in Diabetes Care and Education?
As I returned from Chicago after the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Board of Directors orientation and quarterly meeting, I found myself reflecting on what it means to lead in a field that is evolving faster than ever. With rapid advances in technology, changes in telehealth opportunities, and the emergence of new therapies like GLP-1s for obesity treatment, it is clear that the future of diabetes care will be shaped not only by seasoned experts but also by those willing to step forward, ask questions, and share fresh ideas. Walking into that room as an incoming board member…
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ADCES25: Thriving in Diabetes Care & Education
The last week was a whirlwind of learning, growing, connecting, and plenty of laughs. Because when a bunch of diabetes care and education specialists get together, you know you’ve found your people. Who else gets excited to talk about CGM reports, autoantibody labs, and even bowel movements at 10 PM on a Saturday night? (Definitely a good call to leave the family at home for this one!) Every year when I head to the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Annual Conference, I’m reminded how powerful it is to have a strong professional network, especially when you’re running your…
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How Virtual Dietitians Are Expanding Access to Diabetes Care
For years, nutrition support has been an essential but underutilized part of diabetes care. Despite strong evidence that medical nutrition therapy improves outcomes, many people with diabetes have faced challenges accessing consistent, high-quality guidance from registered dietitians. That’s beginning to change. Virtual care is breaking down long-standing barriers, making it easier to connect with dietitians in timely, flexible, and personalized ways. As a result, virtual dietitians are helping close critical gaps in care, and nutrition counseling is becoming more central and more accessible than ever before.
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ADA Scientific Sessions: Expanding the Discussion to Include Weight Bias
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago. It was a phenomenal gathering of researchers, clinicians, scientists, and experts in the field of cardiometabolic health. One of the most compelling shifts I observed was the growing emphasis on obesity care and treatment. The Obesity Association, a new division of the American Diabetes Association, recently published the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity to guide respectful, evidence-based treatment. These standards highlight weight stigma and bias as critical issues in clinical practice. To support the launch of the standards, a special…
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Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2025!
On May 30th, I had the opportunity to speak to the graduating dietetic interns at Children’s Hospital Colorado, sharing my journey from clinical care to entrepreneurship in diabetes care and education. Here are a few reflections and words of wisdom I’ve embraced along the way.
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Goodbye BMI? Why Body Composition Is Gaining Ground in Clinics
The rise of incretin-based therapies for obesity care, like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), has brought renewed attention to the risk of muscle atrophy that can accompany rapid weight loss. To better assess changes in skeletal muscle mass, clinicians are turning to body composition assessment tools to track progress over time. However, the ability to measure, interpret, and communicate changes in body composition is a skill most clinicians haven’t been formally trained in, leaving many feeling like it’s not a tool they can confidently use. I want to push back against that assumption and offer some basic principles to help…
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GLP-1 Success Starts with Dietitian Leadership
It should come as no surprise that a large part of the success with incretin-based therapies— like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—stems from the effective integration of lifestyle modifications, particularly nutrition. This success occurs at both the individual and programmatic levels. But it’s not always for the reasons you might expect. By the time most people begin incretin-based therapy, especially for weight management, they’ve often already tried a range of diets: calorie counting, commercial weight loss programs like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, and more. This time, they’re looking for something different—something that addresses the deeper pathophysiology and root causes…
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3 Key Insights from the Nutrition Entrepreneur Summit
Attending the Balance Spring Summit was an inspiring event that reinforced my passion for entrepreneurship and professional growth. The speakers and exhibitors shared insightful, experience-backed strategies on scaling services, staying motivated, engaging in self-development, and building a thriving business—skills that aren’t exactly covered in “dietitian school.” With so much valuable content to absorb, narrowing it down is no easy task. But here are three key insights from the summit that stood out to me, and I hope they resonate with you, too! The Balance Summit Experience The Balance Summit is a truly one-of-a-kind virtual gathering—created by nutrition entrepreneurs, for nutrition…
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Dietitian Abroad: Navigating Digital Nomad Life in Chile
It has been a lifelong dream—or at least a recent professional goal—to work both remotely and abroad. The trendy term for this is digital nomad, though I’m not sure I’ve quite reached that status yet. My spouse has had a flexible position for some time, but given my background in healthcare—primarily in clinic and hospital settings—this dream always felt out of reach. I never thought it could become a reality for me, but I just spent five weeks living and working abroad in Viña del Mar, Chile! Here are a few things I learned along the way—and what I might…
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2025 ADA Standards of Care: 4 Key Changes You Shouldn’t Miss
The start of a new year means one thing in diabetes care and education—new Standards of Care! While the guidelines continue to grow in size and detail, much like a thick phone book, their annual updates are incredibly important for shaping high-quality care for people living with diabetes. Here are four key updates I’m particularly excited to see this year. What are the Standards of Care? The ADA Standards of Care are widely recognized as the gold standard for evidence-based guidelines in diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes. Grounded in the latest scientific research and clinical trials, these guidelines provide…
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New Year, New Services: Elevate Your Diabetes Care in 2025
Over the past year, I’ve been dedicated to expanding and refining the services I offer to provide exceptional support in diabetes care and education. As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reintroduce these offerings to ensure both new and existing clients can fully benefit from everything available. Whether you’re just discovering my practice or have been with me for a while, here’s an overview of how these services can elevate your diabetes care and education. Contractual Services & Training In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, delivering comprehensive and effective diabetes care is more essential than ever. At…
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Embracing JOMO: Finding Peace in Professional Life
The article discusses the contrast between FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). It emphasizes the benefits of adopting a JOMO mindset, such as reduced stress, improved focus, and fulfillment, encouraging reflection on personal values and prioritizing intentional choices.
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The Value of Clinical Mentorship
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to have a clinical mentor? Someone you could message for support in a pinch, whether you’re feeling stuck or just need a second opinion? I know in my own professional journey, there were countless moments where I wished for that kind of guidance. As the sole dietitian—and later, the only diabetes care and education specialist—on staff, I often found myself full of questions with no one to turn to for immediate answers. Those experiences taught me just how valuable it is to have someone in your corner who’s been there before,…
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Entrepreneurship in Diabetes Care and Education
As I wrap up my first year as Chair and Founder of the ADCES Connect Entrepreneurship Community of Interest, I am deeply inspired by the creativity and innovation of my peers. What started as a simple desire to bring like-minded professionals together—those working outside traditional settings in diabetes care and education—has transformed into a year of professional growth, enriching networking opportunities, and the empowering realization that running a successful consultancy is possible. Join me as I share insights and reflect on the invaluable wisdom offered by seasoned DCES entrepreneurs. The Launch of the Entrepreneurship COI The Association of Diabetes Care…
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ADCES24: Let the Good Times Role!
It was another great year at the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists annual conference, this time in vibrant New Orleans. Packed full of engaging educational sessions, networking events, and a lively exhibitor hall, all set against the backdrop of a city with endless activities, this weekend was nothing short of the professional highlight of my year (so far). It was also my first time presenting at a national conference! Standing in front of my peers, sharing insights in diabetes care, was an exhilarating experience. The positive feedback that followed not only validated my hard work but also fueled…
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4 Clinical Pearls from the 2024 ATDC Conference
I was very fortunate to attend the 2024 ATDC Conference this year in beautiful Keystone, Colorado. The ATDC Conference has been an integral part of education and case-based studies of pipeline diabetes technology for over 30 years. This year’s focus included keynotes and plenaries on topics such as cardiovascular disease outcomes in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, early detection strategies, updates in AID and Rx/OTC sensors, updates in macro- and microvascular complications, and even a possible cure for type 1 diabetes. Despite being an intimate event, hosted at almost 10,000 feet, there was no shortage of big names…
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Reflecting on a Year of Achievement
As the new year approaches, there’s a temptation to eagerly embrace goal-setting in diabetes care and education, planning for the months ahead. It’s easy to quickly forget about our successes and instead pivot towards new hurdles on the horizon, especially if the past year was challenging or disappointing. While setting new goals can be a positive and motivating practice, it’s essential to reflect on our achievements. Recognizing and acknowledging these successes, irrespective of their scale, not only bolsters our confidence but provides valuable insights. The Practice of Reflection As a diabetes care and education provider, it’s important that we welcome…
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ADCES23: A Mecca for Diabetes Care & Education
The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) serves as the professional practice organization representing nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, advanced practice providers, and community health advocates working in diabetes care and education. The annual ADCES23 conference brings together leaders in the field to disseminate updates in clinical care and technologies. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to network. I’ve included some of the highlights from this years conference. I am already looking forward to ADCES24 in New Orleans! Professional Sessions The professional sessions are an opportunity to hear from experts in the field on original research and best practices in diabetes care and…
