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In part 3 of this Exclusive Interview, Tracey Brown talks with Diabetes in Control Publisher Steve Freed about her vision for the ADA and the need to educate and increase awareness.
Tracey Brown, MBA, BChE, is CEO of the American Diabetes Association.
Transcript of this video segment:
Freed: Well, it sounds like you’re very knowledgeable, certainly to help the ADA gain funds and hopefully find a cure. But maybe — I’m sure you have plans. I know you’re the type of person that had this all figured out before you took the job even. So, what are your plans for the ADA? What’s going to make your position there different from the last 100 years?
Brown: Yes. Well, my hashtag right now, Steve, is #23days. I’ve only been on the chair for 23 days. And so, I definitely have a plan but the first part of this plan was to really come in and listen, listen and learn. This is a nearly 80-year organization with a rich heritage. There are lots of smart talented people in the organization. And one of the things I’ve learned over my 30-year career is, start by trying to understand, seek to understand first. And so, I fundamentally believe God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. And so, I’m on a bit of a listening tour and I’m going to continue to be on this listening tour for about 30 days.
Also, one of the things that I’m passionate about, and I know just from my own experience, Steve, is this disease is still very misunderstood. People just don’t know enough about it. They don’t understand the complications that come with it. There is a lot of stigma still associated with this disease. And so, education and reaching out into the community. And what I say is those of us who actually know what this disease is about we have to wake up the rest of the world. I still feel like the world is still sleeping a bit on exactly what this disease is and its impact. So, what I can tell you, while I am still listening, and I’m going to be very thoughtful before putting together a strategy, here are a couple of things that I do know: education, awareness, and a strong link to the community is a must. The second thing is we have to find a cure. Research has to still be a part of what we do and who we are. It’s a part of our DNA; we were started by scientists and doctors. The third thing that I know without a shadow of a doubt, Steve, is that this disease, the size and the scale of this epidemic is bigger than any one entity. If it were easy to solve, I believe that a particular entity probably would have solved it by now. So, collaborating and partnering, I think is the only way forward. It is going to take multiple stakeholders in this ecosystem for us to find a cure and for us to actually unleash the kind of education and knowledge that is needed to actually help the millions of us who are living with this disease thrive. So, those are three things that I know, education and awareness, research, and collaboration with other partners. Now, of course you mentioned this: fundraising, it’s a must. We actually have to have funds in order to fulfill this mission. So, of course that will be a basis of what we are continuing to do going forward as well.
Freed: And I wanted to share with you because you’re so new into this field, and I’ve been doing it for 20 years, and that is, and you’ll find this out, people that are involved with diabetes, medical professionals that work with patients, they have a passion for what they do. Being a certified diabetes educator, you’ll see that every single one of them really has a true passion to help other people. And that’s great, working with people like that because it’s not just about generating income and becoming rich. It’s all about helping other people.
Brown: Well, actually on this listening tour one of the things that I have just continued to be blown away by is just the level of commitment and conviction of the associates at the ADA. I mean, being able to work with a group of talented people who are so committed to the cause and so committed to helping has been phenomenal. And then a part of my own leadership DNA is to try and live my life as a servant leader. So, again, this is just — not that I needed a shot in the arm but this is definitely a shot in the arm.