JDRF Northwest Chapter

JDRF Names Dick Allen as Chairman of the Board

justin — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:49:09 +0000

New York, NY, April 30, 2012—JDRF, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, announced today that Dick Allen has been named Chairman of the Board for the organization, commencing July 1, 2012.
Allen has been involved with JDRF for more than 10 years on both the local and international levels. He has served on the JDRF International Board of Directors for the past four years, and currently chairs the Board’s Research Committee. He has served in a variety of Board positions, including Chair of the Audit and Research Development Committees, as well as a member of the Executive Committee.

Allen will replace Frank Ingrassia as JDRF’s Chairman. Ingrassia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clever Devices, Ltd., will complete his two-year term as JDRF’s Chairman of the Board at the end of the organization’s fiscal year in June.

“My time as Chairman of the Board at JDRF has been an important part of my life, as I believe wholeheartedly in the organization, how far we have come, and the forward direction in which we are headed on behalf of people with type 1,” Ingrassia said. “I have the utmost confidence in Dick as he takes over the role of chairman, and I look forward to his continued successes with JDRF.”

“I have been committed to JDRF for a long time, and am honored and excited about this next stage of my involvement with an organization that I’m truly proud to be a part of,” Allen said. “Frank has been an outstanding Chairman, and while I have big shoes to fill, I also know that I’m stepping into the position on well-nourished soil.”

Allen has had a 40-year career in the healthcare industry, as both an operating executive and a seed capital investor and board member. He began his career at Baxter Healthcare, holding domestic and international management positions in finance and operations. After leaving Baxter, Allen co-founded Caremark, a venture capital-backed pioneer of intravenous therapies delivered in the home. He led the company’s finance and operations functions and played a key role in guiding its rapid growth and initial public offering. Since Caremark’s sale to Baxter in 1987, Allen has been an angel investor, providing seed capital for companies in the medical device arena, healthcare services, and healthcare IT markets. In this capacity, he has been a founder, board member, or early-stage investor in more than 30 companies. He cofounded Pyxis Corporation, the market
leader in medication storage and dispensing devices for hospitals, and served on the executive committee of the board until its sale to Cardinal Health.

In addition to serving on the board of JDRF, Allen provides strategic oversight for the Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital, and serves as chairman of the board of Tandem Diabetes Care. He is a past recipient of the Director of the Year award from the Orange County Forum for Corporate Directors, and a past chairman of the board of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, the Orange County Community Foundation, and the Orange County Business Council. He served for 13 years on the faculty of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business as a lecturer in the field of strategic management.

Allen received a bachelor of arts (cum laude) from Yale University and a master of business administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He was born and raised in Sioux City, IA, and has been married to his wife, Mary, for 46 years. They live in Newport Beach, California, and have two grown children and four grandchildren, one of whom has had T1D for more than 11 years.

Mother’s Day Special Gift & Benefit JDRF

justin — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:08:21 +0000

Send a great gift to Mom and make a difference in type 1
diabetes.

This Mother’s Day, show Mom how much you care by sending her a
special gift while supporting JDRF and their mission to find a
cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). For every order, $18 will be
contributed automatically to JDRF.

JDRF Research in the News

justin — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:50:45 +0000

Click here for the April research wrap-up.

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week!

justin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:11:49 +0000

The JDRF NW Chapter would like to thank all of the volunteers that make JDRF NW Chapter so successful. We truly are a family working hard towards the goal to better treat, cure and prevent T1D. Your time, effort and smiling faces are so appreciated!

Annie, Becky, Caitlin, Emma, Illa, Joy, Justin, Mike, Nadine, Susan, and Tiffany, from Alaska to Montana, we all say a resounding THANK YOU!

We are currently seeking volunteers for the following events:

South Sound Walk to Cure Diabetes, May 12th- Cheney Stadium Tacoma, WA
Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes, May 20th- Husky Stadium Seattle, WA

We are currently seeking volunteers for the following committees:

Marcom Committee-PR & Media Relations
Outreach Committee-Proposal & Grant Writing

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at JDRF NW Chapter email jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org.

Zip the Cure for $1 Million!

justin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:38:24 +0000

JDRF’s Zip the Cure initiative allows individuals or a group to sponsor a US zip code for $50 with a goal of raising $1 million for T1 research. Sponsors will own –and name– their zip code until January 1, 2013, with the option to renew the following year. Zip codes and names appear on an interactive map. The idea came from a Pennsylvania teenager who developed type 1 diabetes when she was 13 months old.

FDA Green Lights Outpatient Trials for Artificial Pancreas

justin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:56:43 +0000

Thanks to the support of over 100,000 JDRF petitioners, Congress members, and research organizations around the globe, the FDA has approved a key testing phase for the artificial pancreas (AP) in the US. The JDRF-funded study will test an AP system’s ability to function outside a hospital setting, and researchers hope to start trials in the next few months. The hand-held device –created by reconfiguring a smart phone– automatically monitors blood sugar levels and provides insulin as needed.

Countdown Magazine Addresses T1 Pregnancies

justin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:33:48 +0000

Read articles about JDRF research into pregnancy and type 1 diabetes and tips for planning a successful pregnancy. You’ll find health, lifestyle and research articles in JDRF’s online magazine.

JDRF scholarships are now available!

justin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:40:18 +0000

The Diabetes Scholars Foundation Scholarship Program is available to incoming freshmen seeking a higher education at an accredited four-year university, college, technical, or trade school. This scholarship recognizes students who are actively involved in the diabetes community, who have high academic performance, who participate in community and/or extra-curricular activities and who have demonstrated that they are successfully managing the challenges of living with diabetes. Diabetes Scholars Foundation scholarships are not based on financial need. There are now four JDRF Scholarships included in the list.

The JDRF Medical/Research Scholarship ($1,000) will be awarded to a student majoring in Healthcare
The JDRF Advocacy Scholarship ($1,000) will be awarded to a student majoring in Political Science
The JDRF Outreach Scholarship ($1,000) will be awarded to a student majoring in Mental Health (Psychology/Social Work)
The JDRF Rising Star Scholarship ($1,000) will be awarded to an incoming freshman with Type 1 diabetes

The deadline to apply is May 15.

There are additional scholarships on the list as well. To see the complete list and download a copy of the application, please visit www.diabetesscholars.org.

Make a difference in the life of a T1D by increasing your fundraising efforts!

justin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:54:03 +0000

The courage and perseverance of those facing the everyday challenges of T1D is an inspiration to us all. In turn, we seek to inspire them… to give them hope, belief and support through life-changing treatments and significant breakthroughs that get us closer to a cure.

Click here for a few fun and easy tips to help JDRF get closer to a cure by increasing your Beat the Bridge fundraising efforts.

Attend a JDRF Research Update on Feb. 22

justin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:29:22 +0000

Dr. Darlene Deecher, vice president of research, will discuss JDRF’s more recent focus on translational research at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle on February 22. This type of research uses scientific findings to more quickly and efficiently develop treatments that benefit people with type 1 diabetes.