As president of Diabetes Education Services, Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM, believes that we can improve diabetes care through education, advocacy and curiosity.
As a diabetes coach, she promotes excellence in care through her live courses and webinar presentations. As a Diabetes Nurse Specialist who is Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management, Beverly has a twenty year history of being an innovator, leader and mentor.
As a diabetes specialist at a local Indian Health Services Clinic, she keeps her clinical skills fresh through one-on-one education and provider consultation. In her role as nurse entrepreneur and thought leader, she is a relentless advocate for equitable diabetes care for all.
She is the 2021 recipient of the California ADCES Kim Higgins Award and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF and CSU Chico.
Diana Isaacs was awarded 2020 ADCES Diabetes Educator of the Year for her educational platform promoting the use of CGM for people with diabetes and other innovations. She serves in leadership roles for several pharmacies and diabetes organizations. She has numerous diabetes publications and research projects with a focus on medications, CGM and diabetes technology.
For the past three year, Dr. Isaacs has served as a contributing author for the 2023 ADA Standards of Care.
As the Program Coordinator and clinical pharmacist specialist in the Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center, Dr. Isaacs brings a wealth of clinical knowledge combined with extensive research and speaking experience to this program.
We are excited to welcome our newest faculty member! Christine is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and a consultant dietitian. It is important to her that each person living with diabetes feels supported and empowered not only with information but an individualized approach for lifelong health. Winner of the 2023 Impact on Diabetes Award, she is a leader in the field of nutrition, technology, and diabetes care. She has served as a preceptor, lecturer, researcher, and is an active association board member. She has worked across health systems; within Diabetes Care Centers, Endocrinology clinics, Primary Care, Telemedicine Rural Health, and Virtual-First Primary Care. Currently she is owner of Nutrition for Daily Living, where it is her mission to increase access to compassionate and evidenced-based nutrition and diabetes care.
As an adventurer, travel, hiking and snow skiing are her favorite past-times. For Christine, having a moment to take in the landscape and beauty around us can re-energize and fuel a busy life.
Dr. Lawrence Fisher has been a professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco for over 25 years, and he is the Director of The Behavioral Diabetes Research Group at UCSF.
He has a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a former Associate Editor of Diabetes Care. He has conducted multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal NIH- and ADA-supported clinical research with adults with diabetes and their families.
His recent work focuses on diabetes distress and depression, disease management, and how adults and families struggle over time to manage chronic health conditions. He has won two major UCSF School of Medicine teaching awards, was nominated for the UCSF Postdoctoral Scholars Association Outstanding Mentorship Award, and has received a certificate from the American Psychological Association in “Recognition for Substantial Contributions to the Field of Family Psychology and Health.”
In 2012 he received the Richard Rubin Award from the American Diabetes Association. He maintains an active clinical practice at UCSF, has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles on diabetes and related topics, and frequently speaks to both professional and lay groups at local, national, and international meetings and workshops.
Susan Guzman, PhD is a clinical psychologist specializing in diabetes. In 2003, Dr. Guzman co-founded the Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI), the first non-profit organization devoted to the emotional and behavioral aspects of living with diabetes.
At BDI, she serves as the Director of Clinical Education, developing and leading programs for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. She has helped develop and facilitate diabetes distress group interventions for two NIH-funded research studies for adults with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Guzman is passionate about helping to change the conversations in diabetes away from shame, blame, and judgment to those based on facts, empathy, and engagement. She has been part of a joint ADA/ADCES effort to address problematic language and messages in diabetes.
Jessica is a nationally recognized Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist committed to making nutrition education accessible to everyone. As the CEO and co-founder of Diabetes Digital, Jessica has been pivotal in developing an innovative telehealth platform that provides tailored nutrition counseling for individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. Additionally, she co-hosts the Diabetes Digital Podcast, engaging listeners with thoughtful conversations on managing diabetes.
With over a decade of clinical experience, Jessica has contributed significantly to the field through her co-authorship of the “28-Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot” cookbook and “A Diabetes Guide to Enjoying the Foods of the World.” She also wrote the Diabetes Chapter for the Food and Nutrition Care Manual Textbook and regularly shares her insights as a columnist for SELF magazine.
As a co-founder of Food Heaven, an online platform and podcast with more than 5 million downloads, she offers essential resources on cooking, intuitive eating, and embracing body respect. Jessica’s contributions have been celebrated in prominent publications, including Oprah Magazine, Women’s Health, The Food Network Magazine, SELF Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Bon Appetit. She lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband and “spirited” Maltese Shih Tzu puppy, Poppy.
Evgeniya Evans, MAPP, RDN, LDN, CDCES, specializes in chronic disease prevention, diabetes management, and women’s health. Her unique approach integrates mindfulness-based nutrition and positive psychology, creating transformative impacts on her patients’ health and well-being.
Evgeniya’s academic journey reflects her dedication to lifelong learning and her holistic understanding of nutrition and health. She began with four years of Sociology studies at Omsk State University in Russia, followed by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Illinois Chicago. She furthered her expertise with a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. This diverse educational foundation allows her to address the socio-psychological factors that influence dietary behaviors and deliver a well-rounded approach to patient care.
At Cook County Health’s Diabetes Clinic within the Endocrinology Department, Evgeniya provides medically tailored nutrition therapy and culturally sensitive counseling. She works with individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds, guiding them through their unique health challenges with compassion and precision. Her dedication to creating personalized, sustainable dietary strategies highlights her commitment to promoting long-term health and vitality for her patients.
In addition to her clinical practice, Evgeniya is a passionate educator. She teaches several classes at her clinic, including Pillars of Diabetes Management with Lifestyle, Nutrition for Health and Vitality, and The Art of Mindful Eating. Her emphasis on education underscores her belief in the transformative power of fostering a healthy, enjoyable lifestyle supported by mindful eating and a positive mindset.
Evgeniya envisions a world where individuals are free from the struggles of dieting and food-related shame. She dreams of a future where no one feels deprecated by their appearance or food choices, and everyone enjoys the vitality and health to pursue their dreams. She is devoted to fostering vibrant, authentic lives where cooking, eating, and sharing meals with loved ones are sources of joy, love, and positive connection.
Nick is a dedicated author, educator, and holistic practitioner specializing in chronic illness, chronic pain, and diabetes care. With a unique blend of clinical expertise and integrative health practices, he helps individuals move beyond symptom management and onto a path of true healing and vitality.
Nick’s approach to diabetes care is rooted in a people-first philosophy. He combines traditional medical strategies with foundational lifestyle principles—such as sleep, stress management, nutrition, hydration, movement, emotional well-being, and detoxification. This whole-person approach empowers his clients to take control of their health and break free from the cycle of chronic disease.
In his wellness practice, Nick draws from a wide range of modalities, starting with foundational lifestyle support and personalized diabetes care. For clients seeking deeper healing, he incorporates various modalities such as nutrient/mineral testing, bloodwork analysis, homeopathy and manual therapy to help rebalance the body and restore energy from the inside out.
“True healing begins when we stop managing disease and start rebuilding health from the ground up.” – Nick Kundrat
Dr. Jill Schramm is a doctorate-prepared, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with nearly 20 years of clinical experience focused on endocrinology, diabetes management, and midlife women’s health. She is dual-certified as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) and a Board Certified–Advanced Diabetes Manager (BC-ADM).
Dr. Schramm is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where she teaches and mentors future healthcare providers while advancing clinical expertise in chronic disease prevention and management. Her practice includes intensive diabetes care such as complex insulin management, use of diabetes technology, and lifestyle-based interventions as well as comprehensive support for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, with attention to hormonal, metabolic, and cardiovascular health.
She is the founder of Dakota Synergy, a virtual clinical practice dedicated to improving access to high-quality care for women in midlife. Through this platform, Dr. Schramm also works as an independent clinician with The Collaborative, a national network of menopause experts providing evidence-based telehealth care across the 50 states.
Known for her commitment to education and clinical excellence, Dr. Schramm regularly presents on topics bridging diabetes and midlife care, empowering clinicians with practical, guideline-based strategies to improve outcomes for this often-overlooked population.
Sarah Beattie is a Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in diabetes management and education. She works directly with individuals living with diabetes and their families in an Endocrinology clinic to take confident steps toward better health. As a passionate advocate for those living with diabetes, she combines her clinical expertise with an interest in the ever-evolving world of diabetes technology. When not in the clinic, she creates engaging and educational content for patients and healthcare providers as the owner of DNP Health Writer, LLC.
Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002.
Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
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Diabetes Education Services offers education and training to diabetes educators in the areas of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes for the novice to the established professional. Whether you are training to be a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), practicing at an advanced level and interested in board certification, or a health care professional and/or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) who needs continuing education hours to renew your license or CDCES, we have diabetes education information, resources and training; learning and teaching tools; and diabetes online courses available for continuing education (CE). Read our disclaimer for full disclosure.