Joslin Diabetes Center Awards 50-Year Medal to Longtime Investigator Robert G. Spiro, M.D.

BOSTON — October 5, 2004 — Joslin Diabetes Center recently awarded its first 50-year medal to one of its own, Robert G. Spiro, M.D. Since 1970, Joslin Diabetes Center has awarded over 1,800 50-Year Medals to people residing in the United States who have lived for 50 years or more with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, but this is the first time a member of the Joslin staff has received the award. At the present time there are about 800,000 Americans with this form of diabetes.

The presentation took place Sept. 20 at Joslin, located in Boston's Longwood Medical Area. At the ceremony Dr. Spiro announced a gift to Joslin Diabetes Center of The Robert G. Spiro, M.D., Endowed Fund, which will provide camperships (scholarships) to youth with diabetes so that they can attend Joslin's camping program.

Dr. Spiro, who resides in Sudbury, MA, has spent 43 of his 50 years living with diabetes working as a researcher at Joslin, and 48 of those years on the faculty of Harvard Medical School where he is Professor Emeritus. For many years he headed the section on glycoproteins and biomembranes at Joslin.

Dr. Spiro and his wife, Mary Jane Spiro, Ph.D., also a longtime Joslin researcher in the section, are credited for their contributions to our understanding of diabetic kidney disease and the field of glycoproteins (sugar-containing proteins.) The Spiros have trained more than 60 research fellows during their long careers.

Dr. Spiro diagnosed himself with diabetes at age 25 when he was a medical student and attributes his good health to tight control over his blood glucose levels as advocated by Dr. Elliott P. Joslin, founder of Joslin Diabetes Center. Dr. Spiro has seen many changes in diabetes treatment over the years. Several years ago he went on an insulin pump after participating in Joslin's Insulin Pump Program. Although he is officially retired, Dr. Spiro continues to write and publish scientific articles at Joslin Diabetes Center.

For a firsthand account of Dr. Spiro’s 50 years of living with diabetes, click on the links on his website: http://home.comcast.net/~robghspiro/. There he also offers advice to individuals who are living with this disease.