A conversation with Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill, PhD & More Latest News Here – Up Jobs

At the ADCES22 annual meeting, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists named Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill, PhD, APRN, RN, CDCES, diabetes care and education specialist of the year.

Albanese-O’Neill, director of community screening and clinical trial education at JDRF, previous director of diabetes education and clinic operations at the University of Florida College of Medicine and longtime diabetes advocate, has spoken at the White House, at congressional hearings and in the Florida legislature.

Healio spoke with Albanese-O’Neill, an Endocrine Today Editorial Board Member, about the impact of her work, what led her to diabetes care and her passion for equity in health care access.

Healio: What was the defining moment that led you to your field?

Albanese-O’Neill: More than 2 decades ago, our daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16 months. It was those early experiences as a young parent — the uncertainty about her prognosis in the ICU, learning to draw up and deliver a quarter of a unit of NPH insulin with a syringe, setting an alarm to wake up to check blood glucose at night, struggling to find child care, and so many others — that led me to the field of diabetes care and education. That experience continues to define the focus of my work.

Healio: What do you think will have the greatest influence on your field in the next 10 years?

Albanese-O’Neill: We will continue to see extraordinary advances in diabetes technology and therapeutics that will have tremendous potential to improve diabetes outcomes and quality of life. The challenge will be equity. Will there be equitable access to these new devices and drugs? Will there be sufficient clinical support and education so the person with diabetes can optimize the benefits? We will all need to step up to ensure all people with diabetes have access to the tools, medications and training they need to thrive.

My own clinical practice was particularly influenced by technology. I had the privilege of prescribing amazing devices — continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin delivery systems — that largely preclude the need for finger sticks, reduce the risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia, and improve time in range without increased burden. These advances are revolutionary for people living with diabetes, and the future of technological development holds out even greater possibilities for improving lives. The key will be to make these advances available to all, not just to some.

Healio: What advice would you offer a student entering your field today?

Albanese-O’Neill: Some of the best advice I can give is the following: Make it a priority to create and sustain relationships with colleagues who share your clinical and research interests. Over time, many will become friends, and working and collaborating on projects will not only be rewarding, but fun. You will actually look forward to meetings and conferences.

If you are struggling to meet people at school or work, volunteer your time at a professional organization in your field. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally, if you can, try to embrace the journey. In my professional life, I have held titles including marketing director, research coordinator, political science professor, principal investigator, English language teacher, director of clinic operations, and certified diabetes care and education specialist. Each one of these experiences has taught me something unique. There is no one singular path to success or fulfillment — the best path is your own.

Healio: Have you ever witnessed or been part of health care history in the making?

Albanese-O’Neill: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was the director of clinic operations and diabetes education in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Florida. In the spring of 2020, we were unable to conduct in-person visits and literally flipped our operations to a virtual clinic model in a matter of days. Every member of the team — call center staff, medical assistants, diabetes care and education specialists, psychologists and endocrinologists — pitched in and navigated workflow challenges to ensure that all of our patients, particularly the most vulnerable, continued to receive care.

Some of my favorite memories of those days are of my youngest patients showing off their newfound ability to do somersaults on their living room floors and leaning forward to kiss the screen during virtual visits. Without the pandemic, telehealth might have slowly gained a foothold and a mild level of acceptability in health care delivery. Because of the pandemic, telehealth is here to stay and has become a vital part of the emerging care paradigm.

Healio: What was the last book you read and what did you think of it?

Albanese-O’Neill: I often read a book, take some time away from it, and then read it again. Most recently, I read (for the fourth time) Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner, who is one of my favorite authors. This book explores universal themes, including the idealism of youth, the unanticipated but inevitable losses we face as we become adults, and the choices we make — large and small — that shape the contours of our existence. It’s also a story of lifelong friendships, love and the enduring questions we all must face about what really matters in the arc of a human life. Each time I read this book, I reflect on the fact that we can’t always predict our path and that, at some point, we all stumble and fall. What matters most, however, is how we get back up again.

ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS

Receive an email when new articles are posted on

Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on .

“
data-action=”subscribe”>
Subscribe

We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact [email protected]

Back to Healio

Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists