Kyle Cochran

4-Time American Ninja Warrior

Living with T1D in 1993

Kyle Cochran, finalist on previous seasons of the nationally broadcast television series, American Ninja Warrior, has been living with Type 1 diabetes since the age of 5. Kyle has competed on seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the show which features “The world’s most difficult obstacle course.” Kyle was the first person with diabetes to qualify for the American Ninja Warrior Competition, and the first to wear his insulin pump during the grueling multi-stage obstacle course in 2012.

Kyle decided to start competing on American Ninja Warrior to encourage other people with diabetes towards a life without limits.

“Diabetes is one of the most challenging obstacles you can imagine,” said Kyle. “I decided to compete in the American Ninja Warrior competition to prove to people with diabetes that they can overcome their personal obstacles and pursue their own passions and dreams."

During his presentation; Not Letting Diabetes Stand in His Way Since 1993, Kyle will share how insulin pump therapy and his life-long love of competition have helped him achieve his success in life.

Kyle’s participation is part of Tandem Diabetes Care’s Live Life in Full Color Speaker Series.

Jennifer Sherr MD, PhD

Yale School of Medicine

JDRF Board Member

From the time of her diagnosis, 30 years ago, Dr. Sherr was determined to become a pediatric endocrinologist. She completed her undergraduate and medical school training through an accelerated joint BA/MD program at Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed both her pediatric residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Yale. While she always wanted to care for those with T1D, her eyes were opened to the meaningful impact of clinical research. She thus embarked on further training through the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Investigative Medicine Program, a PhD program designed to develop the next generation of physician scientists. Dr. Sherr has since focused her career on clinical strategies to improve closed loop insulin delivery, for which she has a JDRF Early Patient Oriented Diabetes Research Award. She has also worked on projects with the T1D exchange (T1DX) and recently has been selected as the Junior Pediatric Faculty Member to the T1DX Steering Committee. As an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics, her goal in both the clinical and research realm is to reduce the burden of living with T1D.

Vanessa Roberts Avery

Assistant United States Attorney

Vanessa Roberts Avery is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut, handling a broad variety of cases where the United States and/or its employees are plaintiffs or defendants, including affirmative civil fraud (False Claims Act), civil rights, environmental enforcement, and medical malpractice defense.  Ms. Avery facilitates the office’s Civil Rights Education Working Group, a partnership with federal and state agencies and non-profit advocacy groups formed to address and prevent civil rights violations in the education setting, through coordinated outreach and, when appropriate, legal enforcement actions.  She also serves on the Local Civil Rules Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut.

Ms. Avery serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and is a Life Fellow of the Foundation, having been named a James W. Cooper Fellow in 2009.  Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Avery spent more than a decade in law firm practice representing corporate and individual clients in business and financial litigation.  She is a native of New Haven, Connecticut and a graduate of the New Haven Public Schools.  Ms. Avery earned her degrees at Yale University and Georgetown University Law Center.

Cem Demirci, MD

Medical Director, Diabetes Program, CCMC

Dr. Demirci specializes in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) care and management. Until there is a cure, he adamantly works to improve the management and care delivery to patients with T1DM. In addition to T1DM, he specializes in monogenic etiologies of Diabetes Mellitus (MODY DM and others) and Cystic Fibrosis related Diabetes (CFRD).

Charlie O'Connell

Founder & CEO, Fitscript

Topic: PEAK/ Sports and Exercise

In 2012, Charlie O’Connell founded GlucoseZone to help others living with diabetes reach their fitness goals. As a former two-sport Division 1 athlete, Charlie learned how to manage the unique challenges associated with the unpredictable metabolic changes that occur as a result of exercise and diabetes. There was a clear lack of guidance, resources, and information related to exercise and diabetes. He embarked on a journey to change they way people approach the exercise requirements of diabetes.

Bonnie Roswig

Senior Staff Attorney

Center for Children’s Advocacy

Bonnie Roswig is the Senior Staff Attorney for the Medical/Legal Partnership Project of the Center for Children’s Advocacy in Hartford, Connecticut. The primary focus of her work is disability, health and utility law and she has presented nationally on these topics. Attorney Roswig is a Connecticut Health Foundation Fellow, is a member of the Civil Rights Educational Working Group of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut and serves on a number of statewide and legislative committees. Attorney Roswig is a graduate of the Antioch University School of Law.