JDRF is pleased to present the four winners of Diabetes Educator of the Year Awards for 2012. The winners were recognised for their exceptional contribution and dedication to the lives of their type 1 diabetes patients, receiving their trophies at the JDRF Sydney Gala Ball earlier this month.
We are pleased to be able to profile the winners now and commend their achievements.
Excellence and Innovation Award: Annette Keid
Annette received the award for ‘Excellence and Innovation’ for her role as Project Officer at Caboolture Community Health, where she worked on the concept of an electronic self-management care plan for Paediatrics and Adolescents, and developed the content and format of the full version now known as ‘My Plan’.
Annette has worked in various nursing fields since 1984 and trained as a Diabetes Nurse Educator in 1999. After briefly working overseas, Annette commenced with the Metro North Diabetes Service, Caboolture in 2010 as Clinical Nurse Consultant and is an Accredited Diabetes Educator.
Annette has continued as the Project Officer for the next phases of the ‘My Plan’ development which is currently a pivotal component of the Metro North Diabetes Service.
Impact and Relationships Award: Marion Starosta
Marion was selected the winner of the ‘Impact and Relationships’ as she is “one of the unsung heroes of diabetes care and management in Tasmania. Her career in diabetes has spanned almost two decades and she has acted as a mentor, teacher and patient advocate for all of that time. In particular, her work with young adults in transition from paediatric to adult services has been invaluable.”
Marion has attended eight junior camps, is a DAFNE Educator, and a support person to colleagues acting as ‘back-up’ in all areas including pump therapy, endocrine procedures, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, pregnancy & Diabetes, as well as inpatient and outpatient management.
“Marion endeavours to encourage and congratulate every person who comes through our door with some aspect of their self-care. Her capacity to ameliorate judgment is one of her strengths. Combined with her ability to engage realistically with patient’s everyday context of living with diabetes, she is often able to find ways of encouraging patients in their engagement in self-care.”
People’s Choice Award: Charmaine de Bliek
Charmaine de Bliek was chosen as the winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’; as in the words of a parent with a child type 1 diabetes, Charmaine has been able to give “200% effort, above and beyond duty”.
For the past 35 years Charmaine has worked overseas and locally in various health units, including obstetrics and spinal injuries, before commencing as a Diabetes Nurse Specialist in 1994 at the Royal North Shore Hospital.
Having moved to Melbourne in 2011, she currently works at the Ringwood Specialist Centre where her work is highly regarded. Qualities noted such as her passion, selfless actions, knowledge of diabetes, latest technology and her leading treatments go way beyond the ‘standard care’ to best support and treat patients and families.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Cheryl Steele
Cheryl Steele is recognised for her outstanding leadership in diabetes education and research for over 25 years, in receiving the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Cheryl Steele has passionately and tirelessly contributed to diabetes education in Melbourne, as a clinician, teacher, mentor and colleague. Her keen intellect, warm personality, commitment to better diabetes care across all ages is inspirational”.
Starting her career as a Diabetes Research Nurse with Len Harrison and Peter Coleman at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 1991, as well as working in Diabetes Education at Royal Melbourne Hospital till 1993, Cheryl is currently Manager of Diabetes Education Service for Western Health in Victoria.
“Cheryl’s ability to work in a multidisciplinary healthcare team is exemplary and is illustrated by her numerous publications…Cheryl is courageous in the way she will take on implementation of new technologies and new clinical challenges, and this is exemplified specifically by her work in insulin pump support and ongoing development of diabetes services”
Cheryl has been active as a Board member for Diabetes Australia- Victoria, and has been involved in ADEA and NADC.
Thanks to the support of Abbott Diabetes Care, these four winning Diabetes Educators have received a trophy and $3000 each to spend on resources and facilities in their clinic that improve patient care.