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TYPE-1 UNIVERSITY FACULTY
Every professor at T1U understands the challenges of living with diabetes first-hand.

Gary Scheiner 2024An award-winning Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, Master’s-level Exercise Physiologist, and person with type-1 diabetes since 1985, Professor Scheiner has dedicated his professional life to improving the lives of people with insulin-dependent diabetes. He was named 2014 Diabetes Educator of the Year by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Professor Scheiner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Benedictine University. He received his diabetes training with the world-renowned Joslin Diabetes Center. He serves on the faculty of several prominent organizations and the clinical advisory boards for a number of diabetes device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

Professor Scheiner has authored seven books:

  1. Think Like A Pancreas (4 editions: 2025, 2020, 2012, 2004) (Kindle version)(Audible version)
  2. The Ultimate Guide to Accurate Carb Counting (2007) (Kindle version)
  3. Practical CGM (2015) (Kindle version)
  4. Diabetes-How To Help (2018)
  5. You Can Control Diabetes (1997)
  6. Get Control of Your Blood Sugar (2009)
  7. Until There’s A Cure (2012) (Kindle version)

NEW 2025 “Think Like a Pancreas, Completely Revised 4th Edition” Grab a signed copy here>

He’s published diabetes research in prominent scientific journals and written hundreds of articles related to diabetes education for consumer and trade magazines and diabetes websites. He speaks at local, national and international conferences on a multitude of topics in diabetes care.  Professor Scheiner is certified to train on all models of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors and hybrid closed loop systems, and has personally used every system that is currently on the market since 1992.

A devoted husband and father of four, Professor Scheiner enjoys exercising (especially basketball, bicycling, running, and weight lifting) and cheering on his local Philadelphia sports teams.

Jennifer Smith, RD, LD, CDCES

Professor Smith joined Integrated Diabetes Services’ clinical team in 2011 and was instrumental in developing the first virtual diabetes education services including education specific for women who are planning pregnancy.  Professor Smith holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Nutrition and Biology from the University of Wisconsin– Green Bay.  She is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Certified Trainer on most makes/models of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors and DIY closed loop systems.  She is an active member of the American Diabetes Association and Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, and is a regular presenter on the JuiceBox podcast.  

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, she has 20 years of experience working with patients and their families to improve diabetes management.  Prior to moving to Madison, she served as a key member of the endocrine team at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC.  An established guru in diabetes technologies, Professor Smith has had the pleasure of working with many diabetes and personality types, and understands that everyone’s needs and interests are unique. 

She has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was a child and has first-hand knowledge of the variables that affect diabetes management.  After attending a diabetes-specific sports training camp in she discovered her passion for achieving fitness goals while living healthfully with diabetes.  This brought a deeper understanding of athletic training requirements and the importance of nutrition and diabetes management strategies to realize athletic goals.  She completed her first 70.3 Half Ironman triathlon and has since done several marathons, half marathons and many cycling events. 

 Professor Smith honed her skills in helping women successfully navigate pregnancy after having her first baby. After this experience, she co-authored a book specific to Type 1 Diabetes in pregnancy to help women understand what to expect. 

 In her free time, Professor Smith enjoys running, cycling, swimming, yoga, and traveling with her 2 sons and husband, Nathan.  A culinary “experimenter”, she is fond of cooking and baking, with an eye on options to ensure optimal glycemic navigation as well as value for long-term health.  

Alicia Downs RN, MSN, CDCES, BC-ADM

Professor Downs’ diverse nursing career has given her experience with a broad range of health conditions in addition to diabetes.  She is a proud graduate of the Cecil College School of Nursing and received her Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialty in education from Western Governors University. She is an active member of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists and Pennsylvania Nurses Association. 

Professor Downs manages her diabetes with an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor.  Her rocky road included years of misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments during her college years.  That experience gave her the incentive to take the lead in her own health care and educate those around her.

After years as a director of a childcare center, Professor Downs made the career leap into nursing with the goal of becoming a diabetes educator.  Her life has included many unique medical challenges including multiple auto-immune diagnoses and orthopedic conditions.  However, she chooses to view these as opportunities to grow stronger rather than as barriers, and applies this approach to her clinical practice. Her clinical specialties include Diabetes management in combination with complex medical or mental health needs, and tailoring of AID systems to diverse patient needs. 

Professor is a sought after thought leader specializing in AI integration and development in the healthcare space.

Professor Downs’ talents and passions are not restricted to diabetes education.  She can be found as a regular performer on stage/film projects and with local bands.  As an award-winning steampunk and cos-play designer. Alicia is a practitioner of several martial arts forms and an avid Pickleball player. She also spends the fair weather days hiking and biking the trails of the Mid-Atlantic. 

Dana Roseman, MPH, CDCES, RDN, LDN

Professor Roseman is a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist and Registered Dietitian.  She holds certifications in insulin pump therapy and obesity interventions for adults.  Professor Roseman received a Master’s in Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago after receiving a Bachelor’s in Science with Honors at the University of Texas at Austin.  After college, Professor Roseman served as an AmeriCorp volunteer on a variety of health education initiatives and played a key role in establishing the first school-based health clinic in the city of Chicago.

After being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and working closely with her diabetes educator, Professor Roseman was inspired to help others with their diabetes management.  She went on to earn a degree in Clinical Nutrition from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and became a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.  For almost 20 years, Professor Roseman has focused on helping improve patients’ lives through diabetes technology and applied research.  She has trained patients on every currently available model of insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor and has been involved in over 20 cutting-edge clinical trials related to advanced diabetes and obesity interventions.  Professor Roseman is also a pioneer in the area of closed-loop “artificial pancreas” systems and uses a hybrid closed-loop system personally.

Professor Roseman serves as the Research Information Liaison for the Dallas chapter of JDRF and serves on the JDRF National Speakers Bureau.  She also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is active with many local community service projects, including Camp Sweeney (a summer camp for children living with T1D).

Professor Roseman loves to stay physically active and is committed to the belief that T1D need not slow anyone down.  She is proud to have completed the New York Marathon (finishing with a blood sugar of 150 mg/dl!).  Professor Roseman lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband of 22 years and three teenage children.  Whenever a spare moment, Dana enjoys trail running, yoga and downhill skiing.  In quiet moments, she enjoys making jewelry and reading historical fiction.

Kristi Paguio IDS staff

Professor Paguio is a licensed clinical social worker, diabetes care and education specialist, and provider listed on the ADA Mental Health Provider Directory. Since 2007, she has dedicated her career to supporting people impacted by diabetes, from pediatrics to adults, athletes to expectant mothers, and those navigating weight management.

Today, Professor Paguio maintains a private practice specializing in diabetes and chronic illness. She’s passionate about empowering her clients to live their fullest lives, bringing focus to each person’s unique strengths alongside a real-life, practical approach. Her expertise has taken her to state and national platforms where she advocates for greater awareness of the mental and emotional dimensions of diabetes care.

Her connection to this work is deeply personal. Professor Paguio was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2000, sparking her enduring focus on the psychological and emotional aspects of living with the condition. She understands firsthand the challenges her clients face and brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every interaction.

When she’s not working, Professor Paguio enjoys life in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband Ron. She loves cooking, painting with acrylics or watercolors, seeking out travel and adventure, and spending time with dear friends and family – preferably outdoors!

Professor Gentile began her career in diabetes as an exercise physiology diabetes educator in training at Integrated Diabetes Services.  She has since assumed administrative responsibilities in the office and guides patients looking for individualized exercise plans.

Professor Gentile received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Ave Maria University in Florida, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.  She is Certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as well as the International Sports Science Association. 

Professor Gentile was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes at the age of twelve.  She managed her diabetes independently from the getgo, switching from multiple daily injections to pump therapy to a hybrid closed loop system.  Along the way, she has studied the effects of various forms of exercise on glucose levels and enjoys developing basic and advanced exercise prescriptions for patients.

Professor Gentile is an avid weight lifter, with a particular interest in crossfit.  She participated in competitive cheerleading through high school and college, and coached at the college level.  She and her cat Theo share an apartment near West Chester University.  Her aspirations include hiking the Appalachian Trail, becoming a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist and perhaps pursuing a doctorate degree.

Paula Diab - integrated diabetes services

Professor Dr. Paula Diab is a Family Physician and Diabetologist who hails from the sunny shores of South Africa. She earned her undergraduate medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 2000 and then returned to her home province of KwaZulu-Natal to establish her career and continue her post-graduate studies. She has recently also been certified as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in the US and is excited to join the IDS team.

She currently runs a multi-disciplinary practice specializing in the management of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and obesity. Her approach is to walk the journey with her patients and to allow them to manage their disease rather than allow the disease to define who they are. Professor Diab has been the recipient of numerous National and International Awards, including the National CDE (Centres of Diabetes & Endocrinology) Best Practice Award in 2016 and the International Rising Stars Diabetes Programme in 2020. She is currently working on a task force to establish the first Obesity Management Guidelines in her home country. She also serves as a key opinion leader on multiple pharmaceutical products and frequently gives public lectures and presentations on various diabetes-related topics.

She has authored dozens of journal articles and speaks often at local and international conferences. Despite carrying the burden of being the only member of the IDS clinical team without type 1 Diabetes, her skills and passion for diabetes care & education are exemplary (she did successfully manage her own gestational diabetes during her pregnancies). Paula lives with her husband, Guy, and two teenage children, Brunton and Lauren. Her personal experiences led her to write and publish a book: “Confessions of a Pandemic Mother” – a humorous, yet very real account of a working mother’s experience during a global pandemic.

Read Professor Diab’s  articles in Diabetes South Africa: