Animas Corp.

Mary Babin, RN, BSN, CDE is one of the first clinical employees at Animas Corporation and the first coordinator of childcare for the little ones at the CWD conferences. Mary leads a team of certified diabetes educators providing childcare in a safe environment for kids under 5 with and without diabetes. Providing this service alleviates the concerns of many parents of kids with diabetes ? allowing them to attend the sessions with peace of mind knowing that their children are cared for by skilled professionals. This supports Mary?s belief that education is the key to successful blood glucose management. As Executive Director of Clinical and Patient Services at Animas, she is responsible for overseeing pump educators and the pump support team throughout the US. Mary has devoted her career to the world of medicine. As a graduate of Eastern University and Presbyterian School of Nursing, Mary has been in intensive care nursing for over 25 years and a Certified Diabetes Educator for 10. This busy mom and devoted professional has been involved with CWD since 2001. You can spot her at the conferences-she?s the one with the trail of kids behind her!

Melissa Katz, formerly of CNTO411 fame, is now global director of Corporate Communications at Animas, and she just can't get that blogging bug out of her system. Today, she offers this post to JNJBTW about some exciting news in the diabetes care world.

Jim Vail was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 19 while he was a sophomore at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Jim graduated with a degree in Media Communications and was a producer for CNBC Business news in Washington, D.C., for nine years all the while wrestling with the unpredictability of NPH and Regular insulin. After finally going on a pump in October of 2001 and 'getting his life back,' Jim pursued Animas Corporation, the maker of his insulin pump, for a job and a chance to reach others with diabetes. Jim made the jump from CNBC and has been with Animas Corporation as a Territory Manager since April 2002.

Melissa Ringley, R.N., C.D.E., Manager of Clinical Services at Animas Corporation, is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Nursing-Wise Virginia, and has been involved in diabetes education for over 12 years. When her daughter was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago, Melissa dedicated herself to learning about diabetes and giving back that learning to patients and the medical community alike. Melissa has presented to numerous groups of patients with diabetes as well as health care practitioners, and has worked with hundreds of insulin pump patients with all types of diabetes and from all walks of life. Melissa is known for her caring attitude and genuine concern for all her patients, and for her active involvement in the diabetes community. She will be taking the lead role with the Tweener track at this Friends for Life conference.

Natalie Bellini, R.N., C.D.E., has had diabetes since she was a young child and within a year of finishing nursing school started to care for people with diabetes, first focusing on high risk pregnancy and then pediatrics and insulin-requiring adults. She has lectured extensively to clinicians, patients and their families about diabetes, the psychological effect of the disease and how to keep going on the hardest of days. Natalie has worked with children and adults of all ages and has assisted in initiating and expanding pump programs at numerous hospitals and private practices. She is currently a Territory Manager with Animas Corporation. Natalie believes in truth in education and that knowledge is power. She enjoys working with children and teens, and has a second full-time job as mom of her own teen, Erin. Natalie will be leading the Teen Program at this Friends for Life conference.

Nicole Johnson Baker, Miss America 1999, is an international diabetes advocate. She travels extensively promoting awareness, prevention, and early detection of the condition she shares. Under her consulting firm, Johnson Baker works as a corporate and government affairs advisor for patient groups and biotech companies, including Animas Corporation, Eli Lilly & Company and the American Diabetes Association. She spends much of her time engaging lawmakers at both the state and federal levels on diabetes-related matters.

Susan has taught at Animas for thirteen years of her twenty-two year teaching career. She has been a military wife, a national sales leader in direct sales, a member of curriculum committees and the Superintendent's Advisory Committee, and has been active in church work. She earned her BS degree from Murray State University in Kentucky, majoring in Home Economics. She gained a MA degree summa cum laude at ENMU in Elementary Education. She has completed an additional 45 hours from UNM and Grand Canyon University. Her personal philosophy is that all students deserve to be taught by people who want to teach. It is the responsibility of the teacher to learn to be the best possible teacher. She has taught several elementary levels, high school home economics, junior high school, and has been an ESL instructor for adults both at Clovis Community College and in other communities. Susan and Jack, have four children, five grandchildren, and numerous pets.