Well, I have now had the opportunity to go to my first NW Diabetes Summit. It was a great experience. Many great speakers, exhibits and lots of amazing families building community and trying to create opportunity despite living with diabetes.
It was especially inspiring to hear the “Bright Spots” presentation. People living with diabetes and collaborating with their health care team was truly a “Bright Spot”. Living with diabetes is hard work so to have a team on your side is a must. Amanda Briggs, Dr. Farahnaz Joarder, Kathy Hanavan NP, and Dr. Jennifer Raymond all collaborated to give an inspiring presentation. Their presentation demonstrated how people can move from the “challenge” of diabetes and towards the “opportunity”.
If only everyone with diabetes could have such a collaborative relationship with their health team. Dr. Joarder and the rest of the team at OHSU and Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center are setting a great example for the rest of us health providers. This type of collaboration with patients is what our country needs more of to move out of our current health crisis.
We hope to hear more about how the “Bright Spots” project evolves. We hope to have an update for everyone in the near future. Thanks for the great summit.
be well,
Jeff
