Henry Rodriguez, Chair of the Public Policy Council and the Council’s liaison to the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance (DAA), had the honor of presenting Congressman Ed Whitfield with the Lifetime Achievement in Diabetes award on March 1st, at a DAA reception to honor Congressman Whitfield and to welcome the new leadership of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus.
Congressman Whitfield has been the Co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus for five years and, during that time; he has provided tremendous leadership on numerous diabetes issues, including his sponsorship of the Access to Quality Diabetes Education Act. He announced his intention to retire at the end of the current session of Congress.
Also attending, were Congressman Tom Reed, the incoming Caucus Co-chair, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, the other Co-chair of the Caucus, Congresswoman Susan Brooks, the new Vice-chair of the Caucus, and members of their staff.
The Congressional Diabetes Caucus is the largest caucus in Congress, aimed at advancing legislation to benefit people with diabetes and those at risk
The DAA is a coalition of 21 diverse members, representing patient, professional and trade associations, other nonprofit organizations, and corporations, all united by the common goal to defeat diabetes. Members of the DAA currently include:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- American Association of Diabetes Educators
- American Clinical Laboratory Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Medical Association
- American Optometric Association
- American Podiatric Medical Association
- Diabetes Hands Foundation
- Endocrine Society
- Healthcare Leadership Council
- National Association of Chain Drug Stores
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
- National Community Pharmacists Association
- National Kidney Foundation
- Novo Nordisk Inc.
- Omada Health
- Pediatric Endocrine Society
- VSP Vision Care
- Weight Watchers International Inc.
- YMCA of the USA.