I have worked with people living with diabetes for 20+ years. In my current role as an associate professor of nutrition at a medical school, I am fortunate to have research and clinical work, in addition to teaching, as part of my usual duties. My research program uses community-based methods to understand the impacts of quality of life, quality of care, and psychosocial factors on chronic disease management. I am also interested in behavior change modalities. I have led community-based survey and lifestyle intervention studies, in addition to conducting qualitative projects using focus groups and in-depth interview methodologies. My weekly clinical time occurs at our local free clinic, where I help manage persons with diabetes who are under-insured/uninsured, and primarily non-English speaking. Prior to joining academia, I worked as a clinical dietitian and certified diabetes educator for about 10 years. I have also worked as an insulin pump trainer. All of these experiences provide me with a strong clinical and research background in diabetes, and a commitment to helping the under served.