Become a Joslin Medalist
Joslin's Medal Program recognizes individuals who have lived with insulin-dependent diabetes for 25, 50 and 75 years with special awards to commemorate their dedication to lifelong diabetes management.
Medalist of the Month: Spencer M. Wallace, Jr.
Although it was an unsettling diagnosis to receive in April 1931, three quarters of a century living with diabetes hasn’t stopped Spencer Wallace. In fact, it hasn’t even slowed him down.
Click here to read his story...
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Visit the "medalist stories" section below for additional profiles or to submit your own. | |
History of the Program
Joslin first began awarding medals to people with diabetes in 1948 with a 25-year Victory Medal. Believing that proper self-management was the key to minimizing long-term complications, the program was the vision of Elliott P. Joslin, M.D. and served as an incentive for those committed to good, though challenging, diabetes care. In the early 1950s the name was changed to the Blue Ribbon, and as more and more people lived long healthy lives with diabetes it finally became the 25-year Certificate that is awarded today. In 1970 Joslin expanded the program and began awarding a 50-year bronze medal. And Joslin presented the first 75-year medal in 1996.
Awards to Date
Since 1970, Joslin Diabetes Center has presented more than 2,400 50-year medals. Joslin has also awarded 17 distinctive 75-year medals from 1996 to present. To date more than 550 people have received certificates recognizing 25 years with diabetes.The medalist program is far reaching, and Joslin has awarded medals across the country and around the world. Medals have been presented internationally to recipients in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South America, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Application Guidelines
Have you or a loved one lived with insulin-dependent diabetes for 25, 50, or 75 years or more? If so, Joslin would like to recognize this achievement. This program is open to everyone. You do not have to be a Joslin patient to participate.There are no physical restrictions for these awards, however some form of documention is required. Records of the date of diagnosis with diabetes and the date of beginning insulin treatment are most helpful. Click here for a printable application packet. (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to print this packet. If you do not have Acrobat Reader on your computer, click here to download it free from Adobe.)
Medalist Stories
Spencer Wallace, Medalist of the Month, July 2006
Robert Bates, Medalist of the Month, May 2006
Delores (Dee) Brehm, Medalist of the Month, April 2006
Robert G. Spiro, M.D., who discovered his own diabetes in 1954.
C. Lynn Wickwire and Sandy Asherman, who appeared on dLife TV.
Do you want to share your story? Please e-mail a photo of yourself with your medal, and up to 300 words describing your life with diabetes to medals@joslin.harvard.edu. Please include “My medalist story” in the subject line. Some stories may be selected for future publication on our Web site. Please include your full name and address so that we may send you a photograph release form.
50-Year Medalist Study
Joslin's 50-year medalists are invited to participate in a special study, examining outcomes of long-term diabetes. The study attempts to understand what factors contribute to the longevity of individuals who have received this honor. Currently, over 400 medalists are interested in participating in the study. To date, over 300 of these have completed an extensive questionnaire about their life with diabetes. Data from this questionnaire suggest that the risk of kidney, eye, and nerve problems is different after 50 years with type 1 diabetes than the risk among all individuals with the disease.
A second study is currently being undertaken, which examines factors in the blood and DNA that may help in modifying the risk for complications and survival. Participation in this study is open to all individuals residing in the United States who have received the Joslin 50-Year Medal. In coming months, updates for this study and findings from the previous study will be posted on a separate Web site. For further information on participating in this study, e-mail Alysha Berger, or for further information on the 50-Year Medal, e-mail the Medalist Program Coordinator.
To make a donation supporting the Medalist Study, click here.
For additional information, please contact:
Medalist Program Coordinator
One Joslin Place, Suite 745
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 732-2412 or (888) JOSLIN-2
medals@joslin.harvard.edu
