Brian Herrick

Manager, Marketing and Communications, JDRF, Living with T1D since 1993

Brian Herrick joined JDRF in 2010 as a member of the New York City Chapter, where he worked on Walk and Leadership Giving. In 2013, he moved to the national office to work in the Marketing and Communications department.

Brian has been living with T1D since 1993. Since 2014, he has participated in several JDRF and SDP-funded clinical trials testing out Artificial Pancreas technologies and implantable sensors. He has been a guinea pig for several other therapies and research experiments.

He has spoken on behalf of JDRF in US News and World Report, CBS, Fox News, and other media outlets. This year, he is riding in his fifth JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes.

Sam Benger

Founder and Director of Game Plan T1D, Inc.; Living with T1D since age 5

Sam is the Founder and Director of Game Plan T1D, Inc. a non-profit platform built by and for diabetic athletes. Game Plan T1D empowers diabetics by promoting stories of success from T1D athletes and strives philanthropically to improve access to diabetes care like insulin and glucose meters. Sam was national rushing leader in college in 2015,  a 2-time All-American and Academic All-American, as well as one of 13 finalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes the top football scholar in the nation. Sam graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018 where he served as a Captain on the Tartan football team. Sam is passionate about the connection between sport and philanthropy and how this relationship can help the diabetic community.

Lauren Bongiorno

Virtual Diabetic Health Coach, Entrepreneur, and Author of the Diabetic Health Journal, Living with T1D since age 7

Lauren Bongiorno is a virtual Diabetic Health Coach, Entrepreneur, and Author of the Diabetic Health Journal. Lauren coaches and creates resources for people with Type 1 Diabetes all over the world to achieve optimal diabetes management and feel their best. Lauren's practice is rooted in her 360 degree approach, emphasizing wellness throughout the mind, body, and soul. She believes that through self reflection and mindfulness we are better able to understand our own patterns, achieve our goals, and reform our most limiting habits. Lauren continues to be a leading voice in the online community to her 28 thousand Instagram followers, is an ambassador for Lululemon, and was recently nominated by Pure Wow as one of the Top 100 entrepreneurs to watch for 2019 for her work in the diabetes space. You can learn more at www.laurenbongiorno.com

Tommy Degnan

Three Sport Varsity Athlete at Winchester High School; Diagnosed with T1D in 2012

Tommy Degnan, age 17, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in June 15, 2012.  He plays varsity football, basketball, and baseball for Winchester High School.  He and his family are dedicated supporters of JDRF through the Walk and Gala.  Tommy’s father Michael also serves as a member of the JDRF New England board of directors.

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.

Kate Hall

Professional Athlete, Long Jumper; Living with T1D since age 10

Kate Hall has shattered expectations after a T1D diagnosis at age 10. As a professional long jumper, Kate holds multiple records in her sport.  Success began in high school where Kate was a 26-time Maine State Champion and a 2-time National High School Champion. Equally dedicated off the track, Kate would testify before a special Senate Committee on Aging on behalf of individuals living with T1D in 2015. After high school, Kate would go on to be a 2-time NCAA champion at the University of Georgia before turning professional. Kate now has her sights set on the Olympics, continued success at the professional level, and continued T1D advocacy.

Karen McChesney

JDRF New England Chapter Board Member and Advocacy Team Chair, Living with T1D since 1990

Karen has been volunteering with JDRF for many years, as her family has greatly been impacted by T1D.  Her sister Lauren was diagnosed before Karen was born, and so she has always had her as a role model and someone to look up to since her own diagnosis in 1990.

After a childhood full of participating in JDRF Walks, Karen began supporting JDRF’s Advocacy efforts in 2011, and in 2013 took a role on the New England Board of Directors as the VP of Government Relations.  That same year, she attended her first Government Day event and looks forward to the trip to D.C. each year.  During that same time period, Karen’s niece and Lauren's daughter Ella was diagnosed in 2012, prompting Karen to take a more active role with JDRF.

Karen also serves as the chapter’s Advocacy Team Chair, where she is responsible for engaging and growing our local base of advocates, taking action on alerts, building relationships with Members of Congress by way of in-District meetings, participating in virtual campaigns, and sharing information on social media.  In addition, she has participated in two JDRF Rides and her writing has been published on the "A Sweet Life" website.

Brynn Marks, MD

Clinical Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Living with T1D since age 5

Dr. Marks is finishing her final year of training in pediatric endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is also working towards a Masters in Health Professions Education at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions.  Dr. Marks enjoys seeing patients with all types of diabetes, particularly T1D and also those with diabetes resulting from complications of solid organ transplant. She has special interests in diabetes technology and medical education. After struggling with her own diabetes management for years and experiencing the benefits of these technologies firsthand, Dr. Marks hopes to raise awareness about how to use these devices to improve life with T1D.  Her research has focused on developing an online educational curriculum, Technology Knowledge Optimization in T1D (TeKnO T1D), to improve provider and patient knowledge about the use of T1D technologies.  She will take a position as an attending physician at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC this August after finishing her training in Boston. Dr. Marks will continue to see patients while also focusing on her educational research.

Allison Nimlos, MA, LAMFT

Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Greater Than Counseling and Coaching, Living with T1D since age 8

Allison Nimlos is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist in Minneapolis, MN. She works in private practice where she specializes in chronic illness, particularly type 1 diabetes (T1D). Allison's passion for individuals and families affected by diabetes comes from her 25 years living with type 1 diabetes. Allison also enjoys working around issues of anxiety, depression, relationships and family conflict. Prior to her work as a therapist, she was Assistant Editor at DiabetesMine.com and has been a freelance writer on diabetes for more than a decade. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and toddler son. You can follow her on Instagram at @thediabetictherapist. 

Daniel Phelan, Esq.

Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the Type 1 Action Foundation, Living with T1D since 2002

Daniel is the founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Type 1 Action Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes. With an extensive roster of favorable outcomes in his matters throughout his law career, Daniel has dedicated his craft and experience to protecting the rights of those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes. Daniel is the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Max Reich Award for Excellence in Civil Trial Advocacy, a prestigious award only awarded to one person per year. Daniel also speaks to bring awareness to, and promote the rights of people with T1D. Through Type 1 Action, Daniel has developed and provides free, downloadable forms such as a 504 Plan template, a Diabetes Medical Management Plan template for parents of students with T1D, and a packet to present to an employer that explains the rights of people with T1D in the workplace and allows them to request reasonable workplace accommodations. Daniel has also set up a fund inside the Type 1 Action Foundation to help finance legal fees for people with T1D who are unable to afford an attorney to represent them in matters such as Special Education Committee meetings, IDEA hearings, criminal matters, juvenile or family court matters, etc., where attorney’s would otherwise not be willing to represent them without payment.

The Type 1 Action Foundation is also dedicated to the empowerment and education of communities, families and individuals facing Type 1 Diabetes. Through the Type 1 Action Foundation, Daniel keynotes conferences and galas all over the world speaking about his personal experiences having T1D, including growing up with T1D and playing both college and professional baseball with T1D, all in an effort to empower people with T1D everywhere so that they know that anything is achievable with the disease.

Daniel is also a member of the board of directors of the NYC/Long Island Chapter of JDRF, and the former President of JDRF Long Island’s Young Leadership Committee.

Danielle Sandage, LICSW

Outpatient Clinical Social Worker, Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital

Danielle is a Clinical Social Worker in the Division of Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital where she provides psychosocial care and treatment for patients and their families living with type 1 diabetes and other endocrine conditions. She is actively involved in research related to disease distress and its impact on daily functioning. Danielle also has an outpatient practice as a psychotherapist working with individuals, couples, and families in Lexington, MA.

Mallory Sin, RD, LDN

Nutrition and Diabetes Educator, Joslin Diabetes Center

Mallory is a nutrition and diabetes educator at the Joslin Diabetes Center where she provides diabetes self-management education and nutrition counseling. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and completed her dietetic internship at Simmons College. Prior to joining Joslin Diabetes Center, she worked at a community health center where her passion for diabetes care was born; she participated in the development of a multidisciplinary diabetes care clinic there and also developed education programs for gestational diabetes and weight management. She has extensive experience teaching nutrition and cooking classes to high school students. Mallory and her husband live in Roslindale, and in her free time she enjoys biking and playing board games

Shannon Terrio, NP, CDE

Diabetes Nurse Practitioner and Educator at Boston Children’s Hospital, Living with T1D since age 9

Shannon Terrio is a nurse practitioner and certified diabetes educator at Boston Children’s Hospital where she provides education to patients and their families living with diabetes. A highlight of her tenure at Boston Children’s was working with Dr. Katharine Garvey on a research project in which teens with type 1 diabetes (T1D) become more engaged in the process of transition to adult care. This year she has begun working with the amazing teens involved in BCH’s Teen Advisory Committee who are working on projects aimed at bettering services provided to BCH patients living with diabetes.