Connecting the Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolism and related Complications Community at the University of Michigan | | |
In this Issue...
* CDI Staff Spotlight
* Institute Happenings
* You're Invited
* Awards and Accolades
* Who's In the News?
* Faculty Publications
* For Your Information
* Save the Date
* Professional Opportunities
* Funding Opportunities
| |  | CDI officially turns 5 next month. Happy 5th anniversary! | |
CDI Spotlights: Joyce Patterson, MPH, RDN, BC-ADM, CPT
This edition of The Dialogue spotlights Joyce Patterson, a registered dietitian, diabetes care & education specialist with the Michigan Medicine Adult Diabetes Education team, and now published author. Click the link to learn more about Joyce and her new book, Think Like a Dietician - A Nutrition Counseling Starter Kit.
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It's Official! Breakthrough T1D U-M-OHSU Cardiorenal Center of Excellence Established at U-M
Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) recently awarded $2.8 million in funding to expand the Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan and Oregon Health & Science University. Led by CDI faculty, Matthias Kretzler, MD, and Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, with Oregon Health & Science University, the center will focus on heart and kidney disease in type 1 diabetes.
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Dr. Scott Soleimanpour Named Larry D. Soderquist Professor
On April 29, 2025, Scott A. Soleimanpour, MD, was formally recognized as the new Larry D. Soderquist Professor during a moving ceremony held in the Cure Room at Brehm Tower.
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| | Drs. Scott Soleimanpour and Martin Myers. | |
All Dressed Up: Celebrating the 40th Annual Breakthrough T1D Promise Ball
The Michigan & Northern Ohio Chapter of Breakthrough T1D held their annual Detroit Promise Ball on May 2 at the beautiful, newly developed Michigan Central in downtown Detroit. Guests, including CDI Managing Director Molly Dwyer-White, along with a few other familiar faces, enjoyed a seated dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment- all in support of advancing diabetes research.
Reflecting on the evening, Dwyer-White shared her excitement about a major milestone announced at the event: the launch of a newly funded Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan:
"It was an incredible honor to be among the U-M scientists and Elizabeth Caswell at the Breakthrough T1D Detroit Promise Ball. We are thrilled about the newly funded Center of Excellence here at the U, which focuses on urgently needed heart and kidney therapies for people with T1D. It felt special to be among the T1D community in Detroit when this was announced."
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Sonya Wolf-Fortune, PhD, and Katherine Gallagher, MD, Featured on
The Fundamentals Podcast
CDI faculty, Sonya-Wolf Fortune, PhD, and Katherine Gallagher, MD, were each featured on The Fundamentals podcast. On Dr. Wolf-Fortune's episode, she discusses the connection between psoriasis and type 2 diabetes and the work her lab is doing to explore the common inflammatory pathways of the two conditions.
Dr. Gallagher sat down with the team to share her expertise on how epigenetics (the influence of environmental factors and behaviors on gene expression) might explain changes in the immune system in people with conditions such as diabetes.
Click here to listen to Dr. Wolf-Fortune's episode.
Click here to listen to Dr. Gallagher's episode.
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Meet the Expert: David Broome, MD, Interviewed for T1D Exchange
David Broome, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes (MEND) Division of Internal Medicine and CDI Clinical Translational Research Scholar, shares a little about himself and his inspiring work with the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative.
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2025 ADA Tour de Cure: Michigan
Spring is in the air! Take advantage of the warmer weather and join CDI on June 7 at this year's ADA Tour de Cure: Michigan.
Join the UM Caswell Diabetes Institute team and raise $250 or more, and you'll earn an exclusive CDI Swag Bag!
Show your support with a donation of $25 or more and be entered to win cool CDI swag items. Multiple chances to win!
Register Here!
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Noura Nachawi, MD, Named 2025 CTRSP Scholar
CDI is excited to announce Noura Nachawi, MD, as the 2025 Clinical Translational Research Scholars Program awardee for her project, Tirzepatide in Type 1 Diabetes: Metabolic, Cognitive, Quality of Life, and Safety Outcomes.
Dr. Nachawi is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the U-M Medical School.
Congratulations, Dr. Nachawi!
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Melissa Elafros, MD, PhD, Wins the Mridha Spirit of Neurology Award
The American Brain Foundation presented Melissa Elafros MD, PhD, with this prestigious award for her work in improving care for those most in need. Dr. Elafros is the Andrea and Lawrence A. Wolfe Research Professor in the Department of Neurology at U-M Medical School. Congratulations, Dr. Elafros!
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Going Above and Beyond: CDI PFAC Members and Faculty Leader Recognized at HOPE & JOY Awards
CDI Patient Advisor, Amy Ohmer, and Dr. Inas Thomas, Associate Director for Pediatric Clinical Research and Diabetes Program for CDI, were honored at the HOPE and JOY Award ceremony held on April 28.
Hosted by the U-M Office of Patient Experience, the awards recognize faculty, staff, patients, and family members who go above and beyond to promote patient and family-centered care principles at Michigan Medicine.
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| | Amy Ohmer, Patient Advisor | |
U-M Medical Student, Chris Okine, Scheduled to Present at 85th ADA Scientific Sessions
Chris Okine, a third-year medical student working with Dr. Briana Mezuk's lab, was selected to present his work entitled, "Feeling secure is important to me… but I just don't…most of the time”: Patient Definitions of Success in Diabetes Management at this year's ADA Scientific Sessions!
Click the link below to learn more about Chris' project and his experience working with Dr. Mezuk's team. If attending the conference next month, we encourage you to stop by his poster presentation on Saturday, June 21, from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (central time) to offer a little CDI support to this rising star in medicine and, perhaps, diabetes research.
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Experimental GLP-1 pill helped people with diabetes lose weight and lower blood sugar, Eli Lilly says
Amy Rothberg, MD, DABOM, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes (MEND) and Director of the U-M Weight Management Program, quoted on CNN.com.
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U-M professor says putting restrictions on SNAP benefits won't solve the healthy-eating problem
Kate Bauer, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the U-M School of Public Health, featured in The Toledo Blade.
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Intermittent fasting can be hit or miss, but research suggests 'sweet spot' can help some stick to their diet
Amy Rothberg, MD, DABOM, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes (MEND) and Director of the U-M Weight Management Program, quoted on abcNews.com.
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David Broome, MD, Maria Foss de Freitas, MD, PhD, Brigid Gregg, MD, Elif Oral, MD, William Herman, MD, MPH, et al published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
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Elif Oral, MD, Maria Foss de Freitas, MD, PhD, Noura Nachawi, MD, and David Broome, MD, et al published in Diabetes Care
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Nathan Haas, MD, Lynn Ang, MBBS, and Nazanene Esfandiari, MD, published in CHEST Critical Care
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Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is Now Accepting Research Projects for 2025-2026
Would you like help getting a new research project started or expediting a current project? Do you want to gain experience mentoring U-M undergraduate students? Consider being a UROP Research Mentor. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, research staff, and advanced graduate students are all eligible and encouraged to apply.
Learn More
| | Spreading the Good News: We Want to Celebrate You! | | You're doing amazing work. You know it, and so do we. Help us to ensure everyone else knows it too! In collaboration with our partners within the Michigan Medicine Department of Communications, CDI is working to spread the word about our important, groundbreaking diabetes research and the people making it happen. Have a new publication? Honored with an award or accolade? Share the good news with Ericka Hudson-Thomas at hudsone@umich.edu and Molly Dwyer- White at mollycd@umich.edu for assistance with promotion. The Department of Communications has various platforms and outlets to assist. Click the image to see more. | | |
American Diabetes Association
85th Scientific Sessions
June 20-23, 2025
McCormick Place Convention Center Chicago, IL.
Click here to view a PDF of the final program.
To view a list of U-M speakers, visit the ADA Online Planner. In the "Search Everything" field at the top, enter "University of Michigan".
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CDI Town Hall
Luncheon
Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Cure Room
5050 Brehm Tower
1000 Wall Street
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Caswell Diabetes Institute
Metabolism, Obesity, Nutrition & Diabetes Symposium
Thursday, October 30, 2025
NCRC
| | | Professional Opportunities | |
Strengthening the Pipeline of Diabetes Research:
CDI Training & Mentoring Program
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Building a robust future in diabetes research requires not only scientific breakthroughs but also a pipeline of well-trained and supported researchers. Effective training and mentoring at every career stage are crucial for driving innovation and ensuring varied perspectives shape the field.
The CDI Training and Mentoring Program, led by Kanakadurga Singer, MD, and Dave Bridges, PhD, fosters a collaborative learning community for diabetes and obesity research. It supports career development and skill-building through targeted activities such as grant writing support, networking, and community-building events, mentor engagement workshops, and skill development outreach. By equipping researchers with critical skills, the program aims to accelerate scientific discovery and strengthen the next generation of leaders dedicated to improving diabetes prevention, treatment, and care.
Subscribe now to stay informed on the latest Training and Mentoring news, events, and happenings!
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Let's Stay Connected
We would love to "Dialogue" with you! If you have stories, information or events related to diabetes, obesity, metabolism and their complications you wish to share, please email MichiganDiabetes@med.umich.edu.
| | Emails going into your "junk" folder? Add michigandiabetes@med.umich.edu to your Safe Senders list in Outlook. Under the Home tab, choose either the Junk icon or the ellipsis (...) on the far right. Click Junk, then Junk Email Options. Once there, you should see the Safe Senders tab. | | | | |
