Kendall Simmons

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champion

Novo Nordisk Ambassador

Kendall Simmons is a former NFL® player who played nearly 10 years after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers® as the 30th overall pick in 2002. Following his first season, Simmons was selected as the team’s rookie of the year.

Shortly before his second season began in 2003, Simmons was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was not sure if he would be able to continue his football career. With the help of team doctors and a strong support network, Simmons returned to the field that same year.

As he learned to manage his diabetes, he regained his strength and flourished on the football field. In 2005, he started all 16 regular season games and all 4 playoff games with the Pittsburgh Steelers®, winning Super Bowl® XL over the Seattle Seahawks®.

Today, he has partnered with Novo Nordisk, a global health care company dedicated to diabetes care, to raise awareness of the importance of properly managing blood glucose levels and to demonstrate that diabetes can be successfully integrated into your life and ambitions. Kendall is currently working with Novo Nordisk to recognize people with diabetes who give back to their communities.

Now retired from the NFL®, Simmons is still very active in the diabetes community. He has spoken to children and adults with diabetes across the country to let them know that the disease can be managed. Simmons hopes that his story can be an inspiration to children and others with diabetes.

Over the course of his career, Simmons spent most of his time on the Pittsburgh Steelers®, playing 7 NFL® seasons with the team and spanning 80 regular season and 7 post-season games. He also played on the New England Patriots® and the Buffalo Bills®.

Jill Campbell, MA, RN, CDE

Certified Diabetes Educator - Children’s Minnesota

Jill Campbell, MA, RN, CDE, earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota and her master’s degree in nursing education from St. Catherine University.  She has been a certified diabetes educator with Children’s Minnesota for the last 7 years.

Jill is a facilitator with the diabetes support group at Children’s Minnesota and is the program coordinator at Children’s for the diabetes education program recognition.  She has a history of collaborating with school nurses regarding diabetes management and participating and speaking at diabetes outreach events.

Jill has been involved with diabetes education program and curriculum updates at the McNeely Diabetes Center of Children’s Minnesota.

Jill loves connecting with her patients and seeing them grow and excel in their diabetes management.

Mary Jo Gale, RN, BSN, CDE

Pediatric Diabetes Nurse Specialist - Park Nicollet

Mary Jo Gale is a diabetes nurse specialist, Certified Diabetes Educator. She graduated with a BSN degree, from the University of Minnesota.

While at Park Nicollet Pediatric Endocrinology, she has been instrumental in developing the Transition program for teens and young adults. As an educator, Mary Jo works with children and families on their journey with learning and incorporating diabetes into their lives. She is a certified pump trainer with a keen interest in continuous glucose monitoring.

She has brought her experience and organizational skills to Camp Daypoint, the American Diabetes Association’s one week long day camp, volunteering every year since 2004.

She is a member of the American Association of Diabetes educators.

Beth Hamilton

Child Family Life Specialist - University of Minnesota Health

Beth Hamilton earned a bachelor’s degree in Family Social Science and Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2008.  She completed her Child Life internship at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, California.

She currently works with multiple pediatric specialists at MHealth in Maple Grove and is a vital part of their pediatric diabetes team.

She also volunteers at multiple community events, including the MHealth Child Safety Fair, National Night Out, Pediatric support groups and summer camps.

Her professional goal is to help children and families learn positive coping skills to effectively manage their chronic health conditions.

Sarah Jerstad, PhD, LP

Associate Clinical Director for Psychological Services - Children's Minnesota

Sarah Jerstad, PhD, LP, earned her degree in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2004, followed by a predoctoral clinical internship at the Denver Health Medical Center specializing in child and adolescent mental health and medical psychology. Following her internship, Dr. Jerstad completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota in the division of pediatrics and adolescent health focusing on the treatment of eating disorders, as well as advocacy and leadership in adolescent health.

She has been with Children's Minnesota since September 2006 with a focus on outpatient therapy for children and adolescents and also works with medical inpatients. Dr. Jerstad spent over 5 years working with patients and families from hematology/oncology, and now works with high-risk diabetes patients to help with coping and management of their illness.

Dr. Jerstad is also a certified therapist and level 1 trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr. Jerstad enjoys supervising psychology interns for the APA approved internship program as well as postdoctoral fellows.

She has also been involved in medical education, teaching seminars to medical students and presenting grand rounds in the community. Her lecture topics include psychological aspects of chronic illness as well as a number of adolescent issues, including eating disorders, romantic relationships, brain development, and depression.

Dr. Jerstad is the Associate Clinical Director for Psychological Services in St. Paul.

Teddy Johnson

University of Minnesota Student - C.U.R.E.D. - College Diabetes Network

I am Teddy Johnson and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the third grade.

Through CURED, I’m able to converse with other diabetics on better ways to manage diabetes while also raising funds and awareness for diabetes research through volunteerism.

I am a sophomore studying Chemical Engineering in CSE.  I enjoy being outdoors, snowboarding, water skiing, ice hockey and traveling whenever possible.

Karly Kroeten

University of Minnesota Student - C.U.R.E.D. - College Diabetes Network

My name is Karly Kroeten and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 7 years old.

I am a senior at the University of Minnesota in the college of Biological Sciences, majoring in Biology, with the goal of becoming a physician's assistant after I graduate.

I love to run, bike and do just about anything in the outdoors with my dog. I have faced many obstacles with diabetes in my teenage years. As a young adult I am passionate about diabetes awareness and education, as well as learning about others stories. As a member of CURED I am able to do so throughout the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Heather Lage, RN, CDE

Pediatric Diabetes Educator - University of Minnesota Health

Heather Lage has degrees in both Social Work and Nursing.  She grew up in North Dakota, and moved to the Twin Cities in 1998 where she has been working as an RN,CDE  for the past 11 years.  Heather currently sees patients at the MHealth Pediatric Specialty Clinic in Maple Grove.

Heather has been actively involved in the diabetes community by volunteering at JDRF events, Camp Needlepoint and developing programs for support and education at both Children’s and the University of Minnesota.

Heather’s daughter was diagnosed with T1D in 2015 at the age of 10.  She also has a 15 year old son who is antibody positive in the TrialNet study where they are actively working to prevent/delay his diabetes.

Jennifer McVean, MD

Pediatric Endocrinology - University of Minnesota Health

Dr. McVean grew up in Plymouth, Minnesota and graduated from Wayzata High School.  After completing her undergraduate work at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, she returned to complete her Medical Degree at the University of Minnesota in 2002.  She completed a pediatric residency at the University of Colorado and a Pediatric Endocrinology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  After spending the first 5 years of her career in clinical practice in Wisconsin, she returned to Minnesota and enjoys seeing patients with Type 1 Diabetes at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and at the Maple Grove and Woodbury clinics.

In her free time, she is a busy wife and mother of 3 wonderful children!  Dr. McVean was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 11.

Lauren Plunkett, RDN, LD

Registered Dietitian - Children’s Minnesota

Owner at LP Nutrition Consulting LLC

Lauren was diagnosed with T1D when she was 11 years old, and like many people new to diabetes, she struggled to perfect her diet, physical activity, and insulin management. However, she built a foundation of values based on responsibility and independence. Her ambitions have taken her all over the country in pursuit of education and life experiences. Above all adventures throughout the years she found the greatest value in the consistent effort to live a healthy lifestyle.

In pursuit of a degree in dietetics, she vowed to never forget what it felt like to be the patient. While learning the tremendous science of nutrition she found that her diabetes management was improving, and realized that healthy eating with consistent exercise had made an enormous impact.

Today she is a Registered Dietitian at Children’s Minnesota and a Certified Diabetes Educator. Her personal experience coupled with expertise as a nutrition educator bridges the gap between patient and professional. She takes personal responsibility in her role, and hopes to show people of all ages living with T1D that they can be healthy, achieve their goals, and can seize the day just as well as anybody, if not better.