Dr. Clement Cheung

Clinical Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine who will lead our popular session, First 2 Years with T1D

Clement Cheung, MD, PhD. is a Clinical Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. He received his MD and PhD degrees at the University of Washington Medical Scientist Training Program, and completed his residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at University of California, San Francisco. He is currently the director of the Neuroendocrinology Clinic, which specializes in pediatric brain tumor patients with hormone problems. He is also the Director of Medical Education in Endocrinology for Residents and the Associate Director of Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship. He has received many accolades in research, medical education, and clinical work. He is passionate about educating trainees on the wonders of endocrinology and diabetes and on empowering patients and families in understanding and managing their diabetes or endocrine conditions.

Dr. Jenny Marshall (Eide)

Licensed Clinical Psychologist leading our breakout on T1D and Mental Health

Dr. Jenny Marshall (Eide), Licensed Clinical Psychologist, has extensive experience conducting research and helping clients manage psychological issues related to coping with chronic illness. Her doctoral research focused on teenagers with type 1 diabetes and treatment protocols to improve their mental health. She collaborated with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to establish Teen Power, a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program for Type 1 diabetic adolescents. She was recently appointed as an advisor for the National ADA Behavioral Medicine & Psychology Interest Group . She has worked with individuals, families, and groups surrounding issues associated with living with a chronic disease. She also has Type 1 diabetes and personally relates to the myriad of challenges faced by individuals with a chronic illness.

Spanish Summit Panelists

Hear from an Endo, Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Clinical Therapist, and Nurse Practitioner in this all Spanish Summit session

Dr. Ed Bellfield is a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist at Kaiser Permanente the Panorama City and Los Angeles Sunset office. He completed his pediatrics training at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and pediatric endocrinology training at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also completed a master's degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Bellfield has led the multidisciplinary pediatric diabetes clinic at Panorama City for the past 5 years. He has also been active in advocacy through participating in JDRF workshops and the OneWalk fundraising. In his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants, hiking, and lounging around the pool.

Carolina Herrera-Park is a Spanish speaking Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) practicing in the outpatient setting who completed her bachelor’s degree, dietetic internship and master’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics through California State University Northridge. Of her 8 years practicing as a RDN, she has worked with children and teens with Type 1 diabetes for 6 years in a multidisciplinary team spearheaded by Pediatric Endocrinologist Dr. Bellfield. Her introduction to the world of Type 1 Diabetes began as an opportunity within Kaiser Permanente to further educate herself on the complexities of T1DM and how, as a dietitian, she could best serve the T1DM community. She learned that in addition to academic education it was invaluable to learn from T1DM patients and families as they are living it every day. Carolina is passionate about food and understands that it not only serves the role of nourishment to keep bodies healthy but food also carries cultural significance, food preferences, memories  --  it is meant to be enjoyed! Creating positive relationships with food, self, and others in the setting of Type 1 diabetes & nutrition is possible and it is her mission to provide the tools and evidence based knowledge to best support her patients and families as they navigate T1DM.

Rosemary Beltran is a clinical therapist with over 15 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in Social Welfare from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Columbia University. As a licensed clinical social worker, Rosemary has a breadth of experience working in health care and in outpatient psychiatry with children, adolescents and adults. As part of the endocrinology/diabetes care team at Kaiser Permanente, she provided mental health care, advocacy and support to patient’s diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and their families. On her free time, she enjoys trying new foods (but not cooking them), reading, hiking, and spending time with her children and husband.

Dolores Rangel is a master’s degree advanced practice nurse practitioner with a bachelor degree in health education and public health. Dolores holds board certifications in pediatrics and as a diabetes care and education specialist. As part of the multidisciplinary diabetes care team for Kaiser Permanente, Dolores helps serve the underserved communities of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. When not working, Dolores enjoys spending her time hiking, going to the beach, or watching a good movie with her grandchildren.

Mariana Gómez

Beyond Type 1, VP of International Markets

Mariana is a Psychologist and Diabetes Educator. She is the creator of Dulcesitosparami, one of the first online spaces for people with type 1 diabetes in Mexico.  Mariana is currently the VP of International Markets at Beyond Type 1. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than 30 years ago and is the mother of a teenager.

Laura Mecoy

Advocacy Team Chair for the LA Community Board and mom to 2 young adults with T1D

Laura Mecoy is the Advocacy Team Chair for the LA Community Board.  She is an award-winning former journalist who is the managing partner and founder of Mecoy Communications, an LA-based strategic communications firm. Laura is the mother of two young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and her family has been active in JDRF since 2000, raising and donating nearly $300,000. Laura served as a walk team captain for 15 years, mentor for the newly diagnosed, founder of the South Bay parent group, member of the board, chair of the LA and the Long Beach Walk Committees and the Board’s Public Relations/Publicity Committee. As the chair and as a member of the Advocacy Committee, she has participated in advocacy meetings with members of Congress and traveled to D.C. to lobby Congress on behalf of JDRF.

With her daughter, Grace Walker, she participated in the 2015 JDRF Children’s Congress. Her son, Ryan Walker, also was a South Bay Walk Ambassador when JDRF still had a South Bay Walk. He was featured in a movie trailer JDRF created with Sugar Ray Leonard and has served as a JDRF spokesperson. She and her husband, Cary Walker, are members of the JDRF LA Ride team and have participated in five JDRF Rides to Cure Diabetes. They will be joining the JDRF Ride in Death Valley this fall, along with their son, Ryan. They live in Manhattan Beach.

Lori Marks

JDRF Outreach Volunteer, Walk Family Team Captain and CPO (Chief Pancreatic Officer) to son, Jonah

Lori Marks has worked as a JDRF volunteer in a variety of positions over the past 11 years.  She is an Outreach Volunteer who has been actively mentoring newly diagnosed families, as well as hosting monthly parent support coffees in the San Fernando Valley.  She has served on the JDRF One Walk Committee as the Family Team Captain for the past 7 years, coaching teams to fundraising success.  She has captained her own family walk team since 2010, raising and donating over $200,000.

Lori is an early childhood educator and mom to two boys.  Her son, Jonah, was diagnosed with Type 1 in 2010.

Since Jonah’s diagnosis, Lori and Jonah have represented JDRF, speaking to local businesses, as well as serving as advocates, meeting with local Representatives.  Lori and Jonah traveled to DC to meet with members of Congress and advocate for Type 1 funding when Jonah was a delegate to the JDRF Children’s Congress in 2013.  Jonah has served as the President of JDRF So Cal Youth Ambassadors for the past 2 years.  And Lori’s husband, Tony, is in his second term on the Los Angeles JDRF board.  Lori and her family live in Tarzana.