Breakthrough T1D Oregon/ SW Washington Community Summit – Oregon City

March 8, 2025, Oregon City, OR
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Pacific Time)

Join us on Saturday, March 8th for an in-person, educational summit, bringing together the type 1 diabetes community! Learn about research advances, participate in discussions with experts, talk with diabetes vendors and meet others living with or impacted by T1D. Youth programming is available for children grades K-7th. While there is no fee to attend the Summit, registration is required.

The Community Summit schedule is below! Volunteers are also needed: Volunteer Sign Up.

 

Agenda

  • Be sure to visit our vendor fair, where you’ll have the chance to connect with local organizations and companies dedicated to supporting the T1D community. Learn about the latest products and resources. You’ll also have the opportunity to stop by the Breakthrough T1D Hub, where you can learn about different ways to get involved, connect with others, and make a meaningful impact in advancing T1D awareness and research.

  • Dr. Rodica Busui, Professor and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Director of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center, and the Jordan Schnitzer Endowed Chair in Diabetes at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), will share her expertise. Gain valuable insights from Dr. Busui’s research and learn about the latest advancements shaping the future of type 1 diabetes care.

  • This insightful and heartfelt panel discussion is tailored for families with children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The session brings together a diverse group of parents, caregivers, and adults living with T1D who will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you’re looking for practical tips or emotional support, this session offers a safe space to ask questions and connect with others who understand the journey.

  • Join local T1D clinical research experts and patients for an insightful discussion on the pivotal role clinical trials play in advancing T1D treatments. This session will highlight how trial participation drives life-changing breakthroughs and shapes the future of T1D care. Attendees will also learn about current local clinical trial opportunities for both youth and adults living with T1D.

  • Drs. Tweet and Harris, both diabetes psychologists, will talk through the psychosocial aspects of living with diabetes focusing on the most common challenges including diabetes burnout, diabetes distress, and maintaining diabetes self-management. They will walk the attendees through both the psychosocial challenges as well as the practical strategies for both combatting and overcoming these challenges.

  • McKenna McKee, a 13-time national champion cyclist living with type 1 diabetes and a proud Vancouver native, will inspire with her incredible journey. She’ll share how the power of community has shaped her success, and how she doesn’t let T1D get in the way of her dreams. McKenna is excited to be a part of the Community Summit and share her message that “strength is not measured by what we are faced with, but by how we rise above it.”

Speakers

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Dr. Rodica Busui

Keynote Research Speaker

Bio

Dr. Rodica Busui

Keynote Research Speaker

Rodica Busui, MD, PhD is Professor and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Director of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center , and the Jordan Schnitzer Endowed Chair in Diabetes at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). She is also the 2023 President for Medicine and Science of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, and an internationally recognized leader in the field of diabetes and diabetes complications. Her research interests involve chronic complications of diabetes, including diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot complications, diabetic kidney disease, heart failure , cardiovascular disease, as well as use of novel technologies for diabetes management. She has been PI and member of the Steering Committee in many landmark diabetes clinical trials funded by NIH, foundations or Industry including: Diabetes Control and Complications Trial /Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC), PERL trial: A Multicenter Clinical Trial of Allopurinol to Prevent GFR Loss in Type 1 Diabetes, Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD), Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation Type 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D), Glycemia Reduction Approaches for Diabetes: A Comparative Effective Study (GRADE), T1D Exchange, REPLACE-BG, Wireless Interventions for Seniors With Diabetes Mellitus (WISDM), MOBILE, DEVOTE, SELECT, SOUL. She also designed and leads several investigator-initiated studies to unveil disease modifying agents for diabetes complications, and on the use of diabetes technologies to improve patients’ outcomes and diabetes care delivery funded by NIDDK and Industry . She is the corresponding PI and the Chair of the Steering Committee of the NIDDK-funded U01 Diabetes Foot Consortium. Through her vision and leadership, she has built several cohorts of people with type 1 diabetes at Michigan that she leads and are at the intersection of several joint studies to identify heterogeneity in the risk of disease and complications, thus becoming one of the PIs of the Breakthrough T1d (former JDRF) Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan. She chaired the 2017 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Position Statement on Diabetic Neuropathy, the ADA Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease Interest Group, and the ADA/ACC Heart Failure in Diabetes Consensus. As the ADA President for Medicine and Science she promoted research to understand the differences in the risk for complications in women with diabetes. Dr Busui has also a strong track record of mentorship and mentored numerous graduate and medical students, fellows, and early career faculty majority of which continued academic careers and secured independent funding.
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McKenna McKee

Inspirational Keynote Speaker

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McKenna McKee

Inspirational Keynote Speaker

McKenna McKee is an accomplished American track cyclist racing while managing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Diagnosed with T1D at just six years old, McKenna recently celebrated 14 years of thriving with T1D. A 13-time National Champion, McKenna’s resilience and determination have made her a role model in both the athletic and diabetes communities.

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, McKenna is deeply proud of her roots. She continues to inspire others by breaking barriers in competitive cycling, proving that life with T1D has no limits. Beyond the track, McKenna advocates for diabetes awareness and serves as a beacon of hope for young athletes living with T1D, showing that anything is possible with the right mindset and support.

 
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Michael A. Harris, Ph.D.

NICH Director; Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

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Michael A. Harris, Ph.D.

NICH Director; Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

Dr. Harris is a Professor in Pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University and serves as the Chief of Pediatric Psychology as well as the Director of NICH, Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare. Dr. Harris is a pediatric psychologist by training and is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in the psychosocial functioning of youth with diabetes as well as other chronic and complex health conditions in youth. In 2011, Dr. Harris, along with Dr. Kim Spiro, co-developed NICH targeting the IHI’s quintuple aim (reducing costs, improving care, improving health, reducing provider burnout, and improving health equity) in youth with complex and chronic health conditions who also experience significant social burden. At the 2023 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, NICH was one of the winners of the Inaugural Innovation Challenge (see https://youtu.be/k62_oT6RLIg). Dr. Harris has received funding for his research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Diabetes Association (ADA), Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (HCT) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In June of 2017, Dr. Harris was awarded the Richard R. Rubin Award by the American Diabetes Association that recognizes a behavioral researcher who has made outstanding and innovative contribution in the study and understanding of behavioral aspects of diabetes. His research has been published in scientific journals including Diabetes Care, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Healthcare, Journal of Psychology in Medical Settings, Health Psychology and Lancet. Dr. Harris also co-authored Teens with Diabetes: A Clinician’s Guide published by the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Harris is married, has three children and is an avid skier, golfer, and hockey player.

Ryan Tweet, Psy.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine
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Dr. Laura Tremblay

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Dr. Laura Tremblay

Laura Tremblay, MD is a former primary care doctor, with additional experience in the pharmaceutical space as a Medical Safety Officer. Laura became involved with Breakthrough T1D in late 2018, after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with T1D at 9 years old. Based in Portland, she currently volunteers in several roles within the Pacific Northwest chapter, including Research Information Volunteer, Clinical Trials Education Volunteer, and co-lead for the Youth Ambassador Program. Most recently, she has become passionate about T1D screening. Participating in these various roles has helped her feel connected to the T1D community and also has fueled her optimism that improvements in care will continue at a steady pace and that cures are coming in our lifetimes.
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Bao Ng, DNP, ARNP

Nurse Practitioner, Center for Interventional Immunology

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Bao Ng, DNP, ARNP

Nurse Practitioner, Center for Interventional Immunology

Bao Ng is a Research Nurse Practitioner at Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle where she provides care to participants in type 1 diabetes research trials. She is especially excited to contribute to research seeking to prevent the progression of T1D prior to clinical diagnosis.
Bao received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Washington and is passionate about providing personalized and dignified care to patients, particularly in vulnerable populations. She lives in Seattle with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking, traveling, homeschooling, and has expert level knowledge in all things relating to Korean dramas.
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Shamron Cook

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

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Shamron Cook

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

Shamron Cook, mom to three amazing and inspiring humans; T1D caregiver; and Breakthrough T1D Oregon Advocacy Team Chair.
Two of Shamron’s children have T1D in addition to her father, two of her uncles and her late grandmother.
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Theresa Jahangir

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

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Theresa Jahangir

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

Theresa has been an educator and counselor since 2007; working in public school districts in various levels of PK-12 education. Theresa has been a school counselor, school district administrator, and consultant, always with an equity lens. Theresa is also a parent of a child with complex medical needs (type 1 diabetes) and developmental disabilities. She has been on both sides of the table in her work with children; both as a provider and a parent, and she brings that experience in working with parents.
Theresa is a passionate strengths based advocate who brings strategic thinking and curiosity to advocating and navigating systems of support for children and families with developmental disabilities and medical needs.

Kara Campuzano

Parent/ Caregiver Moderator

Jeff Terrill

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

Rhonda Harding

Parent/ Caregiver Panelist

Pediatric Diabetes Educator

Venue

Providence Willamette Falls Community Center

519 15th St
Oregon City, OR 97045
Directions

Event Contact

Fiona Weaver
9714828451 | fweaver@breakthrought1d.org

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