The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) will present the 2019 Kelly West Award for Outstanding Achievement in Epidemiology to Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis, PhD. This award recognizes significant contributions to the field of diabetes epidemiology. Dr. Mayer-Davis will be recognized with this honor at the ADA’s 79th Scientific Sessions, June 7-11, 2019, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. She will deliver her Kelly West Award Lecture titled, “Improving Outcomes—Translating Epidemiology to Clinical Trials,” on Sunday, June 9.
Dr. Mayer-Davis is currently the Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Medicine and Chair of the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With research focused on the epidemiology of diabetes in youth and young adults, her body of work is described in more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. Dr. Mayer-Davis has conducted trials in type 2 diabetes prevention and type 1 diabetes treatment. She has also performed observational studies of diabetes complications and the role of nutrition. Much of her work has focused on translating research to understand clinical and public health implications.
“Congratulations Dr. Mayer-Davis, and thank you for your outstanding contributions to the important topic of diabetes research as it pertains to our youth,” said the ADA’s 2019 President of Health Care and Education Gretchen Youssef, MS, RD, CDE. “Your work has been critical to the advancement and dissemination of our understanding of diabetes epidemiology.”
Today, Dr. Mayer-Davis is active in the scientific advisory and diabetes advocacy communities. She served as the ADA’s President, Health Care and Education from 2011-2013, and most recently, she was appointed to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Previously, she was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Advisory Group of Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health from 2011-2017.
The American Diabetes Association’s 79th Scientific Sessions, the world’s largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention and care, will be held June 7-11, 2019, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Nearly 15,000 leading physicians, scientists, health care professionals and industry representatives from around the world are expected to convene at the Scientific Sessions to unveil cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes. During the five-day meeting, attendees will receive exclusive access to more than 850 presentations and 2,000 original research presentations, participate in provocative and engaging exchanges with leading diabetes experts, and can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Education (CE) credits for educational sessions. The program is grouped into eight thematic areas: Acute and Chronic Complications; Behavioral Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Education and Exercise; Clinical Diabetes/Therapeutics; Epidemiology/Genetics; Immunology/Transplantation; Insulin Action/Molecular Metabolism; Integrated Physiology/Obesity; and Islet Biology/Insulin Secretion. Gretchen Youssef, MS, RDN, CDE, President of Health Care and Education, will deliver her address, “It’s All about Access!,” on Saturday, June 8, and Louis H. Philipson, MD, PhD, FACP, President of Medicine and Science, will deliver his lecture, “Precision Medicine—Addressing the Many Faces of Diabetes,” on Sunday, June 9. Join the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media using #ADA2019.
About the American Diabetes Association
Approximately every 21 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes. Nearly half of the American adult population has diabetes or prediabetes, and more than 30 million adults and children are living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization on a mission to prevent and cure diabetes, as well as improve the lives of all people affected by the disease. For nearly 80 years, the ADA has driven discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. Magnifying the urgency of this epidemic, the ADA works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with the illness, those at risk of developing diabetes and the health care professionals who serve them by initiating programs, advocacy and education efforts that can lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit us at diabetes.org. Information is available in English and Spanish. Join the conversation with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (Amer. Diabetes Assn.) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
