It is such an honor to receive the Kim Higgins Excellence award from the CA ADCES Board and Coordinating Body.

I want to thank those who nominated me and the selection committee for their thoughtfulness and hard work. I also want to recognize the other nominees and acknowledge their contributions to diabetes excellence.

I love being a part of this community of diabetes advocates, specialists, educators and coaches. When I attend the CA ADCES Meetings, it feels like a big family reunion, but without all the emotional baggage!  Putting on a conference virtual or live is such a huge undertaking and I want to recognize those who generously volunteer many hours to pull off such an awesome event with such relevant and timely topics.

I’m especially honored to receive the Kim Higgins award because of the excellence and passion she brought to the field of diabetes. Kim and I cross paths many times throughout the past 30 years. Both of us were diabetes nurse specialists at Stanford Hospital. we both taught for the groundbreaking program, Becoming an Educator, spearheaded by Mary Sullivan. We both volunteered for the Diabetes Coalition of California and we worked together to promote legislation to enhance sharp disposals for injectable medications. It was after a press conference on sharps legislation where Kim touched my heart the most.

After the conference, we were grabbing lunch and I was sharing with her how I felt I could’ve done better or said something different at the press conference Kim looked me right in the eye, grabbed my hands, and said to me with 100% confidence, “You did great.”

I’ve never forgotten that moment. It was the first time in my career where I truly understood what a mentor could do. A mentor reassures you when you feel that you’re not doing enough or doing it right. And mentor focuses on your strengths while challenging you move forward.

As a recipient of this award, my plan is to carry on Kim‘s legacy of mentoring and helping people achieve their best. Let’s reach out to our colleagues who may be struggling and offer to help with problem solving or just listen and provide encouragement.

Kim was also an energetic explorer. She was so interested in how things worked, how different people saw a situation and focused on making things better. This is a quality I would encourage all of us to embrace. To connect with each other, hear different stories, expand our vision and promote innovations.

Receiving this award has reassured me that I’m on the right path. And I couldn’t have achieved half of what I have achieved on my own.

I need to thank some important people along the way who have lifted me up when I have Felt discouraged or defeated encouraged me to keep moving forward.

Over a span of 20 some years, our incredible team at Feather River Hospital was able to build an ADA Recognized diabetes program, a thriving support group, a Diabetes Prevention Program and host an annual walk to raise funds for our Diabetes scholarship program.  We lost our hospital in the Camp Fire, but I still carry the comradery, spirit and love of all the patients and my colleagues in my heart.

I want to thank my special friends Jane and Jony for helping me conceive my company and being on my Board of Directors since the get-go. And Bryanna, my work colleague who has taught me so much about communication and inclusion.

Of course, my wonderful husband who I met at Stanford hospital and married 23 years ago, who has been the backbone and cheerleader for my company and life. When my kids were small he would bring them to conferences so I could breast-feed during the breaks. During all the ups and down he has reassured me, that “You got this.”  My two boys Robert and Jackson have been an integral part of my company from creating DiaBingo packets to fulfilling orders.

Lastly, I really want to thank all of you. Providing diabetes care isn’t easy. It’s messy, and there’s bureaucracy and insurance companies and other barriers. But at the end of the day. I want all of you to know what a big difference you are making in people’s lives. Just by hearing their stories, witnessing their pain and successes, and advocating on their behalf, each one of you is making such a huge difference in each person life.

I stand on the shoulders of those trailblazers and change agents who have come before me, including my professional colleagues and my ancestors who crossed continents and made big sacrifices to provide me with so many opportunities.