Friends for Life Orlando 2022 is taking place in-person, but there are Fiffles (aka "Friends for Life") who will be checking out some of the sessions virtually. This page is your "home base" for the virtual component of Friends for Life Orlando! Below, you'll find session descriptions and links to the Zoom Webinars for each session that our team is live-streaming. Be sure to download and install the latest Zoom client.
Click on individual session boxes below to join in!
Sessions will start at their indicated times (Eastern US).
Please register to obtain the passcode for all sessions.
Virtual Sessions for Thursday, July 7, 2022
Richard Rubin Memorial Opening Keynote
The Evolution of CWD
Jeff Hitchcock
Founder of Children with Diabetes, Jeff Hitchcock, describes his journey in transforming his family's experience with type 1 diabetes into a world-renowned website connecting families with type 1 diabetes from all over the world. It was the true first of the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), and social media before it existed with chat rooms and forums where families could learn from one another and help each other through tough times.
9:00 - 10:00 am
Progress Toward Prevention and Reversal of Type 1 Diabetes
Laura Jacobsen, MD
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ... and we would love both for diabetes. Join Dr. Laura Jacobsen from the University of Florida for the latest updates on the current research for diabetes prevention and reversal.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Diabetes on a Budget - Manufacturer's Coupons, Using the Pharmacy Benefit, and Other Resources
Jasmine D. Gonzalvo, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, CDCES, LDE, FAADE
Diabetes is the most expensive disease in the United States, but the cost of ignoring diabetes is more than financial. Pharmacist and Diabetes Advocate Jasmine Gonzalvo will help give you a roadmap to reducing your costs with diabetes.
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Federal Update: Will They Ever Lower the Cost of Insulin and Other Drugs?
George Huntley and Jacob Jansen
The healthcare system is incredibly chaotic, and living with a chronic illness adds many layers of complexity. In this session, diabetes advocate George Huntley will walk our CWD community through some of the nuances, tips, and tricks for making sense of the system.
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Virtual Sessions for Friday, July 8, 2022
Key Goals for Diabetes Management: the Pediatric and Adult Perspectives
Bruce Buckingham, MD and Rayhan Lal, MD, MPH, PhD
Diabetes is one part science, one part art, and one part keeping you on your toes. Drs. Bruce Buckingham and Rayhan Lal present their top tips in managing diabetes from the pediatric and adult perspectives.
9:00 - 10:00 am
Leveraging Teamwork in Diabetes Management
Jessie Wong, PhD
Diabetes is not something one can manage alone, and having the support of family and friends can be a game changer for diabetes management. Diabetes psychologist Jessie Wong gives insight into difficult conversations - how to know when to ask for help or offer help when it comes to diabetes.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Adjusting Diabetes Care for Dietary Desires
Leah Groppo, MS, RD, CDCES
Food is such a large part of our lives, and diabetes educator and dietitian Leah Groppo does not want diabetes to stop anyone from enjoying food like everyone else. Leah will talk about common diet types and how to manage glucose and insulin to make diabetes fit into your diet, not the other way around.
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Closing Keynote
Taking Diabetes Along for Life's Adventures
Oren Liebermann
CNN Correspondent Oren Liebermann was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while traveling the world with his wife, and has never let diabetes stop him from living the life he always wanted. Oren is passionate about empowering other people with diabetes to pursue their dreams and making diabetes fit into their lives.
3:30 - 4:30 pm
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Thank you for being part of our Virtual Friends for Life Orlando (VFFLO) 2022 family!
While we offer our virtual conference content at no cost, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work being done by our staff to make this event happen. Your generous donations help keep our organization going. We ask that you please consider the recommended $10 per person donation for VFFLO by giving at cwd.is/GiveOrlando2022.