Aimee Folger, LICSW

Child and Adolescent Therapist, Child Therapy in Boston, Living with T1D since age 11

Aimee was diagnosed with T1D at age 11, and has since been working with children and families to cope with difficult life transitions and general mental health challenges. She received her Masters of Social Work at Wheelock College in Boston, and her undergraduate degree in psychology at Clark University in Worcester. She started her career working at a community mental health agency providing family therapy, and has since focused on working with children and adolescents. Aimee has experience working with children in residential settings, schools, hospitals, outpatient office settings, as well as in the family’s home. Throughout Aimee’s career she has concentrated on helping children and families cope with medical illnesses, specifically T1D. She has experience working with kids who are adjusting to a diagnosis or life style change, as well as supporting their siblings and parents. Aimee currently runs support groups for children and adolescents living with T1D, sibling support groups, and social skills groups.

Katharine Garvey, M.D., MPH

Director, Diabetes Program; Clinical Chief for Diabetes, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital

Session: Ask the Diabetes Specialists

Dr. Garvey serves as Director of the Diabetes Program and Clinical Chief for Diabetes at Boston Children's Hospital and is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Garvey completed fellowships in pediatric endocrinology and pediatric health services research at Boston Children’s Hospital. She received an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Garvey has conducted health services research focused on easing the transition from pediatric to adult care for youth with T1D. Clinically, Dr. Garvey practices pediatric endocrinology with a special focus on children, adolescents and young adults with T1D. In her role as Director of the Diabetes Program, she leads innovations in pediatric type 1 diabetes care delivery in collaboration with team members across disciplines.

Caroline Marshall

FBI Special Agent, Living with T1D since 1987

After being diagnosed with T1D at age 7, Caroline continued to enjoy a happy, active, and adventurous childhood with the help of a family who refused to let the disease interfere with any of her goals or dreams. As a junior tennis player, Caroline achieved a national ranking and earned a scholarship to play Division I collegiate tennis at Georgetown University from 1998-2002. Following graduation, Caroline was hired by the Montpelier, Vermont Police Department as a police officer. While working “on the road,” Caroline investigated a wide variety of criminal matters and also ensured public safety. After receiving this valuable introduction into law enforcement, and then earning a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, Caroline applied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2008 and became one of the first applicants with T1D to be hired as a Special Agent. After completing New Agents’ Training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Caroline was assigned to investigate violent crimes on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. After 5 years in Montana, Caroline transferred to the Albany Division (Burlington, Vermont office) where she is now the only female member of Albany’s SWAT team.

Boston Children’s Hospital Diabetes Program Teen Advisory Committee

The Diabetes Program Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) consists of teens and young adults, ages 14-18 years, who have T1D. They meet once per month to guide and improve care for teens in the Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) Diabetes Program. The Diabetes Program TAC allows teens to connect with others their age with T1D while giving their input to the Endocrinology Team at BCH about areas of interest to teenage and young adult patients. The teens brainstorm ideas to make the program better for their age group and develop new programs to help teens and young adults take care of their diabetes independently.

Ellen O’Donnell, Ph.D.

Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Instructor at Harvard Medical School, Living with T1D since age 21

Ellen H. O’Donnell, Ph.D., is a pediatric psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. She is Director of Psychological Services for the MGH Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Center and for Shriners Children’s Hospital, Boston. She co-directs the MassGeneral for Children Pediatric Behavioral Medicine Program and the MGH Internship in Child Psychology. She is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. O’Donnell’s interests include developing and evaluating interventions for children and adolescents affected by medical illness to improve quality of life and health outcomes. She is also interested in ways that positive parenting practices protect children against problems in adjustment. Dr. O’Donnell works with patients with a variety of pediatric illnesses but is especially interested in the challenges of having T1D since she is living with the disease herself.

Kerri Sparling

Writer and Author; Living with T1D since 1986

Keynote: Press Your Luck: Diabetes Edition - Living Well and Avoiding Whammies | Breakout: T1D: All Grown Up

Kerri Sparling is a writer, poet, and speaker who has dedicated her life to the power of patient narratives. Since 2005, she has been a leading voice in the patient advocacy space, sharing her personal story of over 37 years with type 1 diabetes and helping share stories from others in the patient community. Kerri has worked to bolster the influence of patient stories in the healthcare space, from academic journals to keynote presentations around the world.

She is best known for her work as a patient storyteller at SixUntilMe.com, and as author of Balancing Diabetes (2014), the poetry anthology, Rage Bolus (2021), and Six Until Me: Essays from a life with diabetes (2022). You can subscribe to Kerri’s newsletter at LifeWithType1Diabetes.com.

Karen Waitekus, BS, RN, NCSN

Nurse Leader, Early Childhood Nurse, Sharon Public Schools

Karen Waitekus, BS, RN, NCSN, Nurse Leader, Early Childhood Nurse, Sharon Public Schools—Karen has been a school nurse for 12 years.  This is her fifth year in Sharon and prior to that, she worked as a school nurse in Norwood. Since coming to Sharon, Karen has developed a packet for new/newly diagnosed students with T1D. She enjoys caring for the youngest students with T1D, forming relationships with their families, and watching them grow into independent young adults.