UC San Diego Physician Receives American Diabetes Association Recognition

Steven V. Edelman, MD, Honored with Outstanding Educator Award

May 21, 2009

By Kim Edwards and Michele Huie

Steven V. Edelman, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at the University of California, San Diego, director of the Diabetes Care Clinic at the VA Medical Center San Diego, and founder of Taking Care of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), is being honored by the American Diabetes Association with its prestigious “Outstanding Educator in Diabetes” Award. The award will be presented at the ADA’s 69th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans on June 6, 2009.

Edelman is the 32nd person to receive the Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award since 1975, and is the first endocrinologist to receive it.  The award is presented to an individual who demonstrates significant contributions to the understanding of diabetes education and has spent many years of effort in the field.

"It is my conviction,” said Edelman, “that health care in this country will improve when the people living with diabetes are informed and empowered to take an active role in their own condition."

In 1995, Edelman founded TCOYD, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering people with diabetes and their loved ones to take an active role in their health. He is committed to promoting education, motivation and self-advocacy for people living with diabetes through TCOYD’s live national conferences, local events, publications, online resources and educational television series. Edelman was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15 and is an internationally recognized leader in diabetes treatment, research and education.

“Dr. Edelman can truly say he has walked in the shoes of his patients and those community members who look to him for answers,” said Wolfgang Dillmann, Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, UC San Diego School of Medicine.  “He has dedicated his life’s work to educating, caring for, and encouraging those with this very treatable disease.”

Media Contacts:
Kim Edwards, 619-543-6163, kedwards@ucsd.edu
Michele Huie, 858-755-5683, huie@tcoyd.org