Three diabetes clinicians from The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) have received the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Educator of the Year Award from the JDRF Westchester County Chapter. Based on their dedication, innovation and sensitivity to the Type 1 diabetes (T1D) community, Jeniece Trast R.N., C.D.E., M.A.; Rebecca Crespi, P.N.P., C.D.E.; and Alexandra Kaplan R.D., C.D.E. received this prestigious award and were specifically recognized for their school nurse and family education programs. The award was presented at the Westchester, Fairfield and Hudson counties JDRF meeting on June 2.

“We are proud of our talented team of clinicians who share critical education and resources with patients, parents and healthcare providers throughout Westchester County and the surrounding region,” said Rubina Heptulla, M.D., chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, CHAM. “JDRF is renowned for its research and educational efforts and we are thrilled to work with them to improve outcomes for children with diabetes.”

JDRF Westchester County Chapter and CHAM are in a two-year partnership to collaborate on community outreach and educational programs to improve the health outcomes of pediatric patients with T1D.

“Rebecca, Jeniece and Alexandra have shown dedication and commitment to the education of children with Type 1 diabetes and their families,” said Margie Ostrower, executive director, Westchester County Chapter of JDRF.  “Over the past year, as part of our partnership with Montefiore, they have stepped up to do school nurse education and family education programs. We are lucky to have them as partners.”

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at The Children's Hospital of Montefiore cares for 725 infants and children with endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitussees each year and is one of three programs in New York City to be approved by the American Diabetes Association. The department participates in a wide range of research from basic science to clinical trials. Some of the research includes trials for newly diagnosed diabetes patients, those living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obesity, screening for relatives of T1D and more.

JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, with more than $530 million currently invested in T1D research projects worldwide. JDRF efforts have helped to advance the scientific understanding of T1D with the goal of improving the lives of all people affected by the disease and eventually delivering a world without T1D.