Joslin Diabetes Center Congratulates Melinda Maryniuk, M.Ed., R.D., C.D.E., Recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s "Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award"
BOSTON — June 13, 2005 — Joslin Diabetes Center congratulates Melinda Maryniuk, M.Ed., R.D., C.D.E., Associate Director, Programs and Services, of the Affiliated Centers Program, who will be presented with the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2005 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award
Maryniuk will receive the award and deliver the Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Lecture, “Pyramids, Paradigms and Possibilities,” at the ADA’s 65th Annual Scientific Sessions in San Diego on Monday, June 13, in an 8-10 a.m. PST session. Some 13,000 scientists, physicians and health professionals from around the world are attending the conference, which is being held through Tuesday, June 14, at the San Diego Convention Center.
“Diabetes and nutrition education have been my passion for my whole career. To make a difference in patients’ lives is so rewarding,” said Maryniuk. “I equally enjoy educating other clinicians to educate patients. The need is so great – there just aren’t enough diabetes educators to spread the word. Diabetes educators need to spend more time educating physicians, office nurses, public health workers,” she said.
Maryniuk has been a diabetes educator for 26 years, and has been at Joslin in Boston for 14 of those years. She has also worked with diabetes programs at Duke University, University of Florida, and directed the Joslin Affiliate in New Jersey. She is the author of over 60 articles and has given over 100 presentations to local, regional, national and international meetings. }
“Indeed, she is truly a world renowned diabetes educator who has played pivotal roles in developing the skills of clinicians caring for diabetes patients across the U.S. and in other countries. It is fortunate that she considers travel as one of her hobbies, because she is traveling on a frequent basis,” said Alan M. Jacobson, M.D., Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives Division at Joslin and Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. “Anyone who has ever attended one of her lectures recognizes Melinda's special ability to synthesize and present information in a cogent and engaging manner,” he added.
Maryniuk has been a tireless leader in three key organizations: American Diabetes Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators, and American Dietetic Association. She has led and been a member of the ADA Board of Directors for four years, chaired the ADA Education Recognition Program and has served on numerous committees and task forces that addressed critical issues, such as designing clinical guidelines for care, quality assurance, education of professionals, professional and patient publications, among others. She also served as an Associate Editor for ADA Programs Publications. Within the American Dietetic Association, she served as Chair of the Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group as well as Chair of the Division of Clinical Dietetics and Research of the Council on Practice. She is the 2004 recipient of the American Dietetic Association Foundation Award for Excellence in the Practice of Clinical Nutrition.
As Associate Director of Affiliated Programs at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Maryniuk is responsible for supporting the clinical, educational and quality improvement activities for over 20 Joslin Affiliates. She also coordinates a range of special services, such as international consulting for diabetes education programs.
Maryniuk has a B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a M.Ed. degree from Tufts University. She completed a dietetic internship at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center in Boston. She and her husband, George Maryniuk, enjoy a variety of activities, including skiing, kayaking, and hiking, and raising two teenage sons.
