Susan Ashford is an avid outdoors person who loves mountain activities, especially cross country, telemark and downhill skiing. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. Susan has had Type 1 Diabetes since 1995 and has used an insulin pump for over 7 years. Developing an expertise in intensive management of diabetes led Susan to Animas Corporation where she teaches insulin pump therapy to patients and healthcare professionals.
Her presentation, Pumps and Adventure will address the benefits of insulin pump use, exploring pros and cons. An active dialogue of how one manages the rigors of various mountain activities will be encouraged. A short discussion on amylin therapy will also be included.
If you have diabetes and have not heard of Will Cross, you've not been reading the news. Will has taken diabetes across both poles and to the summits of the highest mountains on 6 continents and coming to within a few hundred feet of the top of the world.
Will's extensive travels and experiences will form the backdrop for his video presentation.
Michael Hardin is a Park Ranger with the National Park Service currently assigned to Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than a decade ago, Mike is a certified law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, and structural and wildland firefighter. He also trains for and participates in search and rescue. This often means long work hours and winding up in remote locations with little notice. Off-duty Mike enjoys backpacking, skiing, fly fishing, canoeing, and cozying up in a snow cave when it's minus 40 degrees outside.
Come and hear Mike describe his journey to continue a demanding (and rewarding) career in spite of his diabetes -- successfully helping others and preserving a few fragments of America's natural and cultural heritage.
Mr. Largay is a clinical instructor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Supervisor of the Clinical Trials Program.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and holds certifications from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, and is a Certified Insulin Pump Trainer.
Joseph is also a member of various professional societies. These include the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American Diabetes Association, and Diabetes Exercise and Sport Association Board of Directors.
Jeff was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 27 years ago. A hang glider pilot, climber and insulin pumper, Jeff’s presentation will include slides from his climbs of Denali in Alaska as well as Lobuche & Ama Dablam in Nepal. His message is neither age nor diabetes should limit your pursuit of life’s dreams.
Diabetes at 20,000 feet (6000 m.) in the Western and Eastern Hemispheres;
Born in Evanston, Illinois, USA to an Italian mother and German father. Former top amateur cyclist, driving force behind the IDEA 2000 expedition, with climbing and trekking experience in numerous mountain ranges worldwide. Mexico: Pico de Orizaba (5611 m., 18410 ft.) twice; Ecuadorian Andes: Iliniza Norte (5090 m, 16700 ft.), Cotopaxi (5904 m., 19370 ft.), Chimborazo (6310m., 20703 ft.); Argentine Andes: attempt on Cerro Aconcagua to 6770 meters.
David will give a presentation on his upcoming expedition to the Central Pamirs, to climb Peak Lenin (7134m., 23,406ft).
Bulgarian Zoologist, Climber, Diabetic on the World's Highest Summits. Boyan has climbed peaks on all major continents including summits, Cerro Aconcagua, Broad Peak and K2!
Currently studying photography in Ventura, California. Has worked as professional outdoor guide and instructor in the USA and abroad. Exceptional all-around athlete with hundreds of long, difficult days in the backcountry. Numerous ski-mountaineering routes in Austria. Argentine Andes: Cerro Aconcagua (6959 m., 22834 ft.); Bolivian Andes: Huayna Potosi (6088 m., 19975 ft.).
Lisa will show images and talk about her experiences climbing with Diabetics to the summit of Cerro Aconcagua.
A 23 year old professional snowboard from the UK. Has been a professional snowboarder for 5 years and spends his winters in Verbier, Switzerland. Chris specializes in big mountain Snowboarding, having recently moved away from the competition circuit. At present Chris is in the middle of organising a trip to the most eastern and hostile part of Russia, Kamchatka where his biggest challenge awaits.
Having only recently been diagnosed with diabetes, Chris will talk about cooping both as a new diabetic and with cooping with diabetes at the top level of sport.
Janis received his undergraduate degree at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute studying how the body's immune system combats cancer. He completed medical school at the University of Wisconsin in 2001 and is did his Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Chicago. Janis was a member of the 2001 and 2003 "Anything is Possible" Mt. Everest expedition, treating everything from altitude illness to diarrhea to broken bones.
Now living with diabetes Janis will bring his personal experiences and medical knowledge to the fore in his presentation.
Born and living in Wales, member of the Alpine Club of London. Graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Wales in Bangor. Nikki began her early climbing career in South Africa where she lived with her family, then continued on to climb in the Italian and Swiss Alps. Found a professional outlet for her love for mountains with becoming the first female park ranger in the National Park of Snowdonia. Pakistan, Karakorum: attempt on Broad Peak (8047 m., 26402 ft.) to 5700 meters.
Nikki will talk about controlling diabetes whilst working as a Snowdonia Park Warden Rescue Heroine in the Welsh Hills to climbing the Karakoram.