Diabetes Management Professionals to Know 2025

Elizabeth Forrest is the Founder and President of Touched by Type 1, a leading nonprofit based in Orlando, Florida, dedicated to raising awareness, empowering those with type 1 diabetes, and supporting research toward a cure. Diagnosed at age 10, Elizabeth has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 25 years and channels her personal experience into impactful, community-driven initiatives. She is the visionary behind Dancing for Diabetes, a high-energy annual performance featuring hundreds of volunteer dancers and thousands of in-person and virtual attendees—all united to shine a spotlight on type 1. Elizabeth also created signature programs like the Kids & Teens with Diabetes Dance Program, Type 1 at School, and the Annual Conference, which provide connection, education, and inspiration—all at no cost to participants. Under her leadership, Touched by Type 1 has become a trusted voice in the diabetes community. Elizabeth continues to advocate for increased access to care, affordable insulin, and empowering support networks for families navigating life with type 1 diabetes.

I'm a speaker/writer/physician/activist on a mission to "change the weight of the world". Board-certified in Obesity Medicine and OB/GYN. Founder and medical director of Heartland Weight Loss, an Obesity Medicine clinic with two locations in Kansas. I spend most of my time these days speaking, writing, and consulting. I'm obsessed with leveraging the current demand for obesity treatment to create change in the US healthcare system to improve the experience and outcomes for the three parties essential to the system; the patients, the physicians, and the purchasers. I love connecting with others who share a similar vision and sharing knowledge and experience.

April Likins is a board-certified health coach and nationally recognized stress and burnout expert, triple-trained through Duke Integrative Medicine, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and Precision Nutrition. Her insights and personal story have been featured in Mantra Wellness, Better Humans, Wellbeing Magazine, Authority Magazine, and on 50+ podcasts worldwide. After hitting burnout and experiencing a total health collapse following her father’s death, April turned her pain into purpose. Now, she’s fiercely committed to helping leaders and high-achieving professionals move from burnout and survival mode to clarity, resilience, and vibrant well-being. Learn more at www.aprillikins.com

Whitney Stuart, MS, RDN, CDCES Media Dietitian | Certified Diabetes Educator | Founder of Whitness Nutrition I'm a nationally recognized dietitian and certified diabetes educator focused on simple, sustainable nutrition for optimal health. Through my private practice, Whitness Nutrition, I empower clients to achieve blood sugar bliss using food-as-medicine strategies that are both practical and achievable. * Whitness Nutrition is a 100% virtual practice rooted in education and empowerment, supporting individuals with personalized nutrition interventions that fit real life. As a media dietitian, I've been featured on ABC, NBC, WFAA, Business Insider, and in SHAPE and Real Simple magazines — sharing expert insight on approachable nutrition, metabolic health, and diabetes care. Since 2019, I've been honored as Best Dallas Dietitian, recognized for my relatable, witty, and evidence-based approach. Always open to partnering with better-for-you brands aligned with my mission of real-life wellness as a busy mom. I've worked with hundreds of brands through impactful campaigns, creating content, copy, serving on medical boards, and as a brand ambassador and spokesperson to elevate your message! Let's connect or collaborate! www.whitnessnutrition.com

Providing experienced SEO and online reputation management service. Responsibilities include improving SEO, managing social media accounts & improving online reputation. Daily task include creating content for online publication, web development and link building.

## Dr. Tim Scott Dr. Tim Scott isn't your typical physician. After a decade in emergency medicine witnessing the devastating consequences of metabolic dysfunction firsthand, he realized a hard truth: our healthcare system excels at crisis management but fails miserably at preventing disease. As the founder of Rixa Health, Dr. Scott has pioneered an approach to medicine that looks beyond symptoms to address the root causes of today's most prevalent health issues. His expertise in metabolic health, functional medicine, and cutting-edge therapeutics has helped thousands of patients reclaim their health after years of being told their lab work was "normal" despite feeling terrible. Known for his direct, no-nonsense approach, Dr. Scott combines advanced medical knowledge with practical solutions that work in real life, not just in textbooks. He specializes in reversing metabolic disorders, optimizing hormonal health, and using peptide therapies to address complex health challenges that conventional medicine often misses. Dr. Scott is passionate about empowering patients through education, believing that understanding your body is the first step to healing it. When he's not transforming patients' health, he's advancing the field through education, speaking engagements, and training the next generation of metabolic health practitioners.

As I discovered the power of nutrition and functional medicine to address my own personal health issues, I became inspired to learn the biochemistry behind it all and share what I've learned with those who suffer from chronic health conditions. My specialties and professional interests include: IBS/IBD, autoimmune disease, hormone nutrition, and food sensitivities and intolerances. I take a functional/integrative approach to nutrition which includes advanced GI and food sensitivity testing methods, nutrition counseling, custom meal plans, and supplement therapy as needed.

Medical Director of MI Express Urgent Care as well as MI Express Primary Care. Dual board certified MD, in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, specializing in comprehensive weight loss medicine, adult primary care, urgent and occupational medicine with additional expertise in geriatrics, acute care/hospitalist medicine. I have experience with utilization management, healthcare marketing and healthcare policy through my various roles in these institutions. Passionate about creating and growing health promoting policies and programs in addition to utilizing my expertise to grow products and tools including tech, to innovate a functional and better way to care for our population.

Performance-driven marketing and digital technology professional with over 10 years of experience in developing, optimizing, and delivering technologies while building high-performance teams that drive profit, enhance productivity, and position organizations for accelerated sustained growth. Proven skill in defining and balancing strategic business objectives: P&L, technology, risk, customer value, and time-to-market decisions. Creative thinker who applies intuitive intellectual curiosity to solve complex business, organizational, financial, and technological challenges. Excels in bringing together business and technology domain experts while providing the vision and strategies to achieve better execution.

SEO and Web Design Specialist at KKT Management Enhance digital strategies and website functionalities. Improve search engine rankings and design user-centric interfaces. Conduct successful SEO campaigns, staying abreast of the latest trends and algorithms. Operations Manager at Anna Nasi Lemak Spicy Asia City Manage day-to-day operations and spearhead online presence. Oversee digital engagement and brand management. Integrate traditional marketing with digital solutions to boost brand visibility and customer interaction.

Skilled, highly knowledgeable, and analytical professional with over fourteen years experience in the healthcare sector. Primary expertise in providing strategic insights and actionable information to life science companies. Proficient in molecular diagnostics, point of care diagnostics, genomics, immunoassays, oncology diagnostics, cardiology diagnostics, infectious disease diagnostics and personalized medicine. Strong ability in capturing customer insights, performing technical analysis, sizing niche segments, financial modeling, evaluating market dynamics, identify/evaluate new product potential, and presenting high impact, tactical recommendations. Specialties: Extensive knowledge in the genomics, in-vitro diagnostics space. Demonstrated success in managing teams and clients, assessing business models identifying market opportunities/risks and developing strategies to optimize market penetration, competitive advantage and profit.

I am a pharmacist and health services researcher turned bootstrapped founder of Food Allergy App. We help users navigate food allergies with confidence and safety.

Dr. Enad is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, trauma, and joint replacement. He has authored multiple publications and is regularly cited in the media for his clinical knowledge. He also has clinical interest in exercise physiology and obesity medicine.

Director of Operations at Loving Homecare Inc., and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) based in Whittier, California. My passion lies in helping older adults live with dignity and comfort through high-quality, relationship-centered care. With over a decade of experience in operations, team leadership, and elder care strategy, I focus on equipping families with the tools and education they need to make confident decisions in complex caregiving situations. My background also includes time in corporate leadership and consulting, but I’ve found the most purpose in working closely with families navigating aging, memory loss, and end-of-life care. At Loving Homecare, I lead a team committed to providing personalized in-home support for seniors, from companion care and post-surgical recovery to dementia care and respite services. I believe in care that goes beyond task checklists, rooted in compassion, consistency, and meaningful human connection. Whether I’m advising on care plans, mentoring caregivers, or advocating for seniors’ well-being, my mission is to ensure every older adult we serve feels seen, valued, and supported.

Dr. Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at North Dakota State University, internationally recognized for his pioneering work at the intersection of digital epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, and artificial intelligence. His research harnesses advanced statistical modeling and AI to track and predict health behaviors, medication safety, and disease patterns in real time—bridging traditional epidemiology with next-generation digital health analytics. Dr. Bhagavathula has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Annals of Epidemiology, JAMA Network Open, and Lancet Digital Health. His work has been widely cited and featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, where he discussed the real-world safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro). Recognized among the Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% of Scientists (2019–2024) and elected as a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, Dr. Bhagavathula is known for translating complex data into actionable insights that shape public health policy and clinical practice. His ongoing projects include NIH- and NSF-aligned initiatives on AI-powered overdose forecasting, digital twins for public health, and real-world drug safety surveillance using explainable machine learning. With a decade of experience spanning more than two dozen countries and collaborations with organizations such as WHO, USAID, and UNICEF, Dr. Bhagavathula brings a global, data-driven, and human-centered approach to solving modern health crises.

Specialties: Population Health, Care Management, Accountable Care Organizations, Sustainable Health Communities, Provider Engagement, Product Development, Business & Health Care Strategy, Product Sales Support, Business Process Management, Telemedicine, Healthcare Information Technology, Operations, Physician Engagement, Clinical Redesign, Patient Flow, Wellness, Strategy, Patient Centered Medical Home, Health Policy, Managed Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Regulatory, Boards, Governance, Public Sector, Public Health, Analytics. Leadership Development and Nursing