Pre-Diabetes Briefing, in Cooperation with Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Explores Ways to Pull Americans Back From Brink of Diabetes
July 12, 2010

Speaker bios

Ann Albright

Ann Albright, PhD, RD, assumed the post of Director, Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in January 2007. As Director, Dr. Albright leads a team of professionals who strive to eliminate the preventable burden of diabetes. Dr. Albright received her doctoral degree in Exercise Physiology from Ohio State University. She completed an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in nutrition at the University of California, Davis, and a clinical internship in nutrition at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Before joining CDC, Dr. Albright served as Chief of the California Diabetes Program for the California Department of Health Services and held an academic appointment in the Institute for Health and Aging at UCSF, a position she held since 1995. From 2003-2004, Dr. Albright served as the Senior Health Policy Advisor in the Office of the United States Surgeon General and led the Secretary of Health's Diabetes Detection Initiative. Dr. Albright lectures and is published in several areas, including exercise, nutrition, and public health practice in diabetes prevention and control. Dr. Albright is past President, Health Care and Education, for the American Diabetes Association, and has also served in leadership roles with the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Dietetic Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine.

David M. Kendall

David M. Kendall, MD, is Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the American Diabetes Association, the nation's largest voluntary health organization leading the fight to "Stop Diabetes." Kendall joined the Association in September 2009 and provides leadership and oversight of scientific and medical activities including research, clinical affairs, program recognition and certification, medical information, and professional education. In this capacity, he oversees the Association's support of a broad range of professional education activities and the development of the Association's clinical practice guidelines, clinical consensus reports, and expert opinions. In 2009, the Association provided $33.55 million in research funds, funding 439 grants at 164 leading U.S. research institutions. In addition to his role at the American Diabetes Association, Dr. Kendall holds an academic appointment as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and serves as an Adjunct Medical Director at the International Diabetes Center (both in Minneapolis, MN). With more than a decade of service to the International Diabetes Center, Dr. Kendall served as Medical Director and Chief of Clinical and Professional Services (2008-2009), Chief of Clinical Services (2000-2005) and Medical Director, Affiliate Programs (1997-2001). He also served as Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Amylin Pharmaceuticals (2005-2008). In addition, he held the position of Consultant in Endocrinology for the Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis and served as full-time faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School from 1994-1997. Active in diabetes research, education, and clinical care for nearly 25 years, Dr. Kendall's research interests have emphasized the clinical management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, emerging and novel therapies for diabetes care, the treatment and prevention of complications of diabetes, and studies of models of diabetes care delivery. He has authored more than 150 original manuscripts, chapters and professional reviews. Additionally, Dr. Kendall has served as an investigator in both the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Intervention and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) Trial and served as a principle clinical investigator for the NHLBI-sponsored Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Trial in type 2 diabetes.

Julie Paradis

Julie Paradis is the Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. FNS provides children and needy families with better access to food and a more healthful diet through its 15 nutrition assistance programs and nutrition education efforts. For more than three decades, Julie has worked to improve food and nutrition programs across the Nation. Before joining FNS, Paradis served as Senior Washington Counsel for America's Second Harvest (currently known as Feeding America), the Nation's largest organization of emergency food providers. While there she influenced Federal officials to formulate food assistance and human services policy to strive toward a hunger-free America. Paradis previously served at USDA as Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services from December 1997 until January 2001. She was responsible for policy and program development for the 15 Federal nutrition assistance programs, including Food Stamps, school meals, WIC, and commodity donations. She also held positions with the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture; and served as Deputy Democratic Counsel for the House Agriculture Committee, providing legal oversight for legislative issues involving the Food Stamp Act and the National School Lunch Act, and welfare reform; served as Staff Consultant to the House Agriculture Committee's Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee; and served as Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations, and Nutrition. Prior to her Capitol Hill experience, Paradis worked for nine years as a staff attorney in USDA's Office of General Counsel.

Winston F. Wong

Winston F. Wong, M.D., M.S., serves as Medical Director, Community Benefit and Director, Disparities Improvement and Quality Initiatives, for Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser Permanente is the nations largest pre-paid, interdisciplinary health plan, operating in 12 states with nearly 9 million members. In this role, he is responsible for developing and cultivating partnerships with communities and agencies in advancing population management and evidence-based medicine, with a particular emphasis on safety net providers and the elimination of health disparities. His background includes leadership roles in community health, government, and health plan delivery. From 1993 - 2003, Dr. Wong was a Commissioned Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, serving as both the Chief Medical Officer for the Health Resources and Services Administration, Region IX, and its Director of California Operations. He achieved the rank of Captain, and was awarded the Outstanding Service Medal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Wong received a Master's Degree in health policy and his Medical Degree from University of California Berkeley - San Francisco Joint Medical Program after earning a baccalaureate degree in Ethnic Studies. A Board Certified Family Practitioner, and bilingual in Cantonese and Toisanese dialects, Dr. Wong continues a small clinical practice at Asian Health Services, a federally qualified health center in Oakland, California, where he served previously as Medical Director. Dr. Wong has served on a number of state and national advisory groups addressing issues in cultural competence, health care access, and improving health care for vulnerable populations. Currently, he serves as the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Health Literacy, the IOM Roundtable on Health Disparities, and the National Quality Forum's Expert Panel on Health Disparities. His work has been recognized by the National Minority Health Month Foundation, Asian Perinatal Advocates, and the Western Clinicians Network.