Board of Directors

Dr. Schmeltz is the founder and director of Diabetes SoluT1ons. He is a partner at Associated Endocrinologists (a division of Michigan Healthcare Professionals) and an Associate Professor at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. He specializes in intensive diabetes management and his computer science background gives him a deep understanding of evolving diabetes technologies. He has been the Chairman of Camp Midicha, (the diabetes camp for kids in Michigan) since 2009, Past-President of the Michigan chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and a member of the National ADA Camp Medical Team. Dr. Schmeltz has also been active with JDRF, chairing the Diabetes Today and Tomorrow Conference (JDRF Summit) in 2012.

Originally from Pittsburgh and the son of an endocrinologist, Dr. Schmeltz has been around diabetes his entire life. His personal connection to Type 1 diabetes deepened when his niece was diagnosed in 2016. His passion for helping those with Type 1 diabetes is palpable to all around him and lead him to create Diabetes SoluT1ions in 2018.

Mark Walsh

Mark Walsh was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 8 and grew up with a sibling who also had Type 1 diabetes. He has a background in wireless software development and nearly 2 decades of experience in the insulin delivery space. He has played an integral role in diabetes camps since 2003, using his position in the industry while implementing both diabetes camps and family retreats. Mark knows first-hand the value of having a support network while managing a chronic diagnosis like T1D.

Howard (J.P.) Parmentier has had Type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. He attended Camp Midicha for six years when it was held in Columbiaville, Michigan. He returned to camp in 2000 as a diabetic partner, then medical staff, and was the director from 2009-2015. J.P. works as the Superintendent of Manistique Area Schools. He enjoys working with his diabetic students to help educate them how to be successful in an educational setting.

Janine Lee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1990, at the age of 8. She attended Camp Midicha as a camper for six years, and was reintroduced to camp by a college classmate 19 years later. She has volunteered on the medical staff each summer since 2006, has served on the Camp Planning Committee since 2008, and has volunteered in a leadership role since 2011. Janine views her camp colleagues as her second family and cannot imagine navigating the daily challenges of diabetes without their support. She believes that diabetes helped mold her into who she is today and doesn’t let it hold her back from anything, including having two healthy children and running a half marathon! Janine works as a pharmacy manager at University of Michigan Health.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in August, 1974, Ici first attended Camp Midicha in 1975 and continued every summer, first as a camper and then as a counselor until the mid 1980’s. Ici began working within
the diabetes community in 2006 and started volunteering at Camp Midicha in the summer of 2007. She was asked to join the Camp Committee and has been a member ever since. She now helps with staff coordination each summer. Her Midicha family – both “old school” and “new” are an integral part of her life and she cannot imagine where she would be in her T1D journey without them. Sadly, Ici lost a brother (Bo) to Type 1 diabetes in March 2019 which is another reason why her commitment to Diabetes SoluT1ons and the diabetes community is so strong.

Emily brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to her role as Director of Community Engagement at Diabetes SoluT1ons, where she is dedicated to building supportive, informed, and empowered communities for people with Type 1 Diabetes and their support systems. 

Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1992, Emily’s personal journey has shaped her lifelong commitment to improving care and outcomes. She has spent over a decade as a Pediatric Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), partnering with families to deliver compassionate, realistic diabetes education that fits into everyday life.

Her perspective deepened further when her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 21 months old. Navigating diabetes simultaneously as a clinician, a person living with Type 1 Diabetes, and a parent gave her invaluable insight into the daily, emotional, and real-world challenges families face. This insight reinforced her belief that diabetes care must support real life, not limit it.

In addition to her work with Diabetes SoluT1ons, Emily is part of the leadership team at Camp Midicha. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two children, gardening, and reading.

Cassie has been diagnosed with type 1 since age 6. She first attended Camp Midicha as a camper, then was a CIT and a counselor. She came back in 2014 to join the medical staff, and has served in positions such as cabin clinician, supervisor, and program coordinator as well as serving as a member of the planning committee. Cassie has also been a part of the diabetes camp, Camp Aspire, in Rush, NY. Cassie works as a nurse practitioner in pediatric endocrinology . She specializes in kids with type 1 diabetes, especially those on pumps and those who struggle with the disease.

In her spare time, Cassie is a long-distance runner, completing multiple half marathons and 2 full marathons. She also enjoys hiking, biking, baking, cooking, and growing her large garden in the summer. She always says that camp is the best part of the whole year, and these people have turned into family. Nothing has impacted her personal diabetes journey as much as camp has.

Dr. Nader Kasim is a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist in Grand Rapids, MI, specializing in diabetes technology like automated insulin delivery and continuous glucose monitoring. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18, he uses his dual perspective as both patient and physician to help others balance diligent health management with a full, active life.

A dedicated community advocate, Dr. Kasim serves on multiple non-profit boards, including as Medical Director for Camp Midicha. He frequently shares his expertise through speaking engagements, podcasts, and partnerships with the ADA and Breakthrough T1D. 

Outside the clinic, he is an endurance athlete competing in ultramarathons and triathlons, and enjoys the outdoors with his wife and two children.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1994 at the age of eight, Brandon Castillon has transformed his lifelong journey with diabetes into a mission of advocacy and connection. Through his work with GNS Medical and as founder of PureT1D, Brandon is dedicated to empowering and supporting individuals and families living with T1D across Michigan.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in northern Michigan and staying active through cycling, running, golfing, snowboarding, and hunting. He embraces every challenge and refuses to let his diagnosis define or limit what he can achieve.

Mimi was diagnosed with T1D in 2009 at the age of 11 and has been passionate about diabetes education and advocacy ever since. A former medical assistant at Associated Endocrinologists, she loved helping patients navigate their diabetes management and sharing the latest in diabetes technology. She now serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Profound Research, where she is proud to work on Type 1 Diabetes clinical trials alongside other therapeutic study disciplines.

Six months after her diagnosis, Mimi attended Camp Midicha for the first time, where she found a sense of belonging that shaped her lifelong commitment to serving others with T1D. Since 2021, she has returned annually as medical staff. Mimi is also involved in Michigan Slipstream and regularly attends local T1D meet-ups, further deepening her engagement in the diabetes community. She has also spoken on patient panels for medical students, sharing her lived experience to help inform and educate future healthcare providers.