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Our Board

Our Board of Directors

Lowell Schmeltz, MD - Founder/Director

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.

Michael Wood, MD

Dr. Wood has had a distinguished career as a pediatric endocrinologist, spending nearly 20 years as Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism at DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan followed by a six-year stint as the Clinical Director of the Diabetes program at Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. He has also volunteered for more than 20 years as a Medical Director at Camp Midicha, the American Diabetes Association summer camp.

Dr. Wood is well known around the country as an expert in his field, bringing to the state of Michigan the first outpatient program for newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetics and being involved in clinical trials for Type 1 diabetes technology.

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

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, PharmD

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.

Ici Ollison

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.

 

 

Nader Kasim, MD

Dr. Nader Kasim is a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist and diabetologist at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, part of Corewell Health, in Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Kasim's main clinical interests include diabetes and diabetes technology. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 years. His outlook to diabetes is balancing quality of life with overall, long-term health. He does not let diabetes hold him back and acknowledges that diabetes is a part of him. He likes to be outdoors with his family, spending most of his time running and cycling. He has competed in multiple endurance races including marathons, trail races, and cycling rides.

He is involved in the diabetes community throughout the state of Michigan. Dr. Kasim serves as medical director and supervising endocrinologist for Camp Midicha. He is also involved with the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, serving on various boards and coordinating outreach activities for the diabetes community. Dr. Kasim also has a clinical and research interest in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. He leads a multidisciplinary clinic with the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Helen Devos Children's Hospital.

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