I am 25 years old and I have had diabetes for nine years. I am currently working on a PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the graduate portion of the MD-PhD program. My research centers on exploring the utility of intraoperative use of virtual and augmented reality in performing surgery.  I am active with the local chapter of the Wilderness Medicine Society. I attended Washington University in St. Louis, where I also met my fiance, for my undergraduate degrees in engineering and biology.

In addition to my research, I also work with children and teens with diabetes. While I now am sometimes responsible for their medical care, I believe I contribute more to these younger diabetics as a role model. Beyond insuring that these young patients receive adequate medical care, I also try to help them lead lives that are as normal as possible. Too many people, including parents and teachers, believe that having diabetes is a good reason to restrict these children's activities. Some examples I have heard about include barring participation in school field trips, competitive sports, summer camps, and outdoor activities (like camping or hiking). These limitations can potentially become entrenched as the child gets older so that they believe they cannot do these things.

Before I was diagnosed with diabetes I had been fairly active in outdoor activities through the Boy Scouts. After I was diagnosed with diabetes I was fortunate to have the support to continue in outdoor activities through the Scouts, and eventually on my own. Those outdoor experiences have been a very important part of my life. My outdoor resume includes canoeing, sailing, hiking, winter camping, wilderness survival, backpacking, and some rock climbing and mountaineering.

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