Jason C. Baker, MD, is Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Attending Endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. He earned his medical degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center in New York. Dr. Baker completed a fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York.

Sandy was drawn to diabetes empowerment to honor the memory of her father who died of complications from diabetes at the age of 65. Sandy has Type 2 diabetes as do other close family members. Sandy has an EdD in Health Education and an MS in Nutrition and Public Health from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator.

Sandy is a co-founder of Diabetes Empowerment Int.,and has been involved with establishing strategy, overseeing programs and projects, leading internal operations and serving as the Treasurer of the Board.

For 15 years, Samantha Shanken Baker was the VP of Marketing and Business Development for M. Shanken Communications, the publisher of both Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado, as well as several trade magazines Impact, Market Watch and Food Arts, for the restaurant and alcoholic beverage industries.

Her knowledge of and access to the top players in U.S. Spirits and Wine distribution, gourmet grocery and trend-setting restaurateurs and chefs is unmatched. Samantha launched The South Beach Wine and Food Festival as well as the New York Festival, Flavor Napa Valley, and Harlem Eat UP! She recently curated a dinner with 17 world-renowned chefs.

Samantha expertise is in creating partnerships between luxury brands and events. Her relationships with well-known chefs Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, Ted Allen, Emeril Lagasse, Michael White, etc. allows her to develop one-of a-kind experiences with Spirits, Wine, Premium Waters, meats, cheeses Caviar, Foie Gras, etc.

One of her biggest life challenges has been balancing a life of rich food and fine wines, along with Type 1 diabetes. For 31 years managing diet, nutrition with lows and highs has not been easy.

Sarah Francis-Bland serves as the Executive and Board Network Leader for EY's Financial Services Organization (FSO) in the Americas. In her role, Sarah is responsible for the development of strategic programs that enhance EY's global brand and strengthen relationships with alumni, clients, market influencers and directors across the financial services marketplace. Sarah's 10+ years of experience spans go-to-market people strategy, talent acquisition, strategic program development, and executive career transition coaching specific to the banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance and private equity sectors.

Dragana joined the Board of the Diabetes Empowerment International Foundation to pursue further her lifelong desire to help those in need. She brings to the Foundation years of experience as a Board member of Lifeline, a foundation that supports the well being of women and children in Serbia, through the provision of facilities, medical equipment, and health services. She also brings to the Foundation her scientific experience and unmatched organizational abilities, perfected while managing research grants and daily operations at the largest research laboratory at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Howard is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Operations at DLS, Inc., a comprehensive legal services corporation with multiple offices serving its network of clients across the globe. He has volunteered his time and resources for many charitable events throughout the years. Howard’s philanthropy with Diabetes Empowerment International extends to the organization’s inception; his triumphant bid at auction on a Bruce Springsteen compilation was a personal highlight at the charity’s inaugural benefit gala.

Howard was graduated from Queens College, City University of New York with a degree in political science and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He has a love of baseball, early 20th century classic sailing yachts, and New York history. Howard resides on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with his wife, Alese. Together, they share a love for the New York Mets, and fair weather cruising Long Island Sound aboard their boat, Our Terrace.

Margie Goldsmith who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and became active in Diabetes Empowerment International. Goldsmith recently joined the DEI Board to help raise funds to allow adults with Type 1 Diabetes in resource-poor settings learn how to create their own income sources such as growing crops, creating handcrafts and art, so they could eventually pay for their own diabetic supplies.

Goldsmith is a NYC-based journalist and author who has just completed her second book, Masters of the Harmonica Share Their Craft. She has explored 140 countries on seven continents and written about them all. She has won 85 writing awards including the prestigious Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award, multiple ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) and NATJA (North American Travel Journalists and Authors) Awards, the Solas Award and four Folio Awards. She is a lifestyle/culture contributor to Forbes.com, has a column and writes features for Business Jet Traveler and has written over 1,000 articles for Robb Report, Travel + Leisure, American Way, Hemispheres, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, National Geographic Traveler, O the Oprah Magazine, Parade and many others. She does not let her diabetes prevent her from kickboxing, cycling, weight training and hiking. In her spare time, she plays blues harmonica.

Michael S. Gordon is a litigation partner at the law firm, Baker & Hostetler LLP. He has a broad range of commercial litigation experience and regularly represents clients in virtually all types of business disputes, including breach of contract, business torts, entertainment, fiduciary litigation, partnership and corporate shareholder disputes, intellectual property, insurance coverage, securities and common law fraud. In addition, he regularly provides strategic counseling to his clients, assisting them in devising creative solutions either to avoid litigation or to facilitate the settlement of protracted lawsuits.

Penny is self-employed with over 30 years of experience in diabetes education and was employed at a leading continuous glucose monitoring company for 16 years coaching and mentoring sales teams. Penny studied nutrition and is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She was inspired to make diabetes her sole focus of professional education after working in hospitals many years ago when she noticed the incidence of diabetes increasing dramatically.

She felt the need to help others weave diabetes into their current lifestyle and make a difference. She attended her first event five years ago inspired by Dr. Jason Baker’s passion and drive to help others thrive with diabetes and immediately fell in love with Diabetes Empowerment Intl.! Penny loves animals and nature.

Laurie is excited for the opportunity to combine her lifelong professional focus on nutrition and diabetes, a love for international travel ,and a desire to contribute to global diabetes awareness and education.

She has worked in research and academic medical settings such as Scripps Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, and is now consulting at NYP/Cornell Weill Medicine as a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

As the author of the Type 1 Diabetes Cookbook she enjoys the creative process of developing practical solutions that aim at simplifying diabetes management. She has authored publications in popular magazines and professional journals and can often be found mentoring residents and students from New York/ Columbia University.

Her passion and track record about raising awareness and need for diabetes funding has benefited organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Diabetes Research Connection and Whittier Diabetes Program.

Laurie has extensive travel experience with a profound respect for the diverse cultural food practices, resources, and belief systems that surround nutrition and diabetes education.

Liz Wolff is the Founder and President of Cure Thrift Shop, a non-profit thrift store in Manhattan’s East Village that benefits type 1 diabetes research, advocacy, and awareness. Cure Thrift Shop is consistently ranked as one of Manhattan’s top second-hand businesses. Liz has worked closely with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and Diabetes Empowerment International for the past ten years to raise funds for cure-focused type 1 diabetes research and advocacy. In 2009, Liz was named “New Yorker of the Week” by NY1 news for her philanthropy and dedication to finding a cure for diabetes. A type 1 diabetic since age 11, Liz continues to work tirelessly to fundraise and increase awareness to further several diabetes initiatives.

Corey H. Basch holds master’s degrees in nutrition education, communication and education, and cognition and learning as well as a doctorate all from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, she holds an MPH with an emphasis in public health practice from University of Massachusetts Amherst. She completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University. Her interests and expertise are in health education, behavioral science and health communication. She has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers on these topics. Corey resides in NYC with her husband and three children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and frequenting the museums of NYC.

Michael Muller has worked in design and marketing for over twenty years. Throughout his career, he has worked with a diverse range of clients across various industries, including healthcare, consumer electronics, professional services, food and hospitality, and consumer packaged goods.

Michael's expertise lies in designing and developing custom websites that not only look great but also deliver results for his clients. In addition to web design, Michael is also skilled in digital marketing. He has a deep understanding of search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, email marketing, and social media marketing.