(Arlington Heights, IL – January 2022) – The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) announces that Becky Sulik, RDN, LD, CDCES, Director of Education, at the Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center in Idaho Falls, ID will serve as 2022 Chair of CBDCE.
Having three years’ experience on the CBDCE Board of Directors, Sulik begins her term as Chair of the organization at a time of opportunity for further collaborations with industry diabetes-related organizations.
“The CBDCE team is excited to work with Becky and the Board in 2022. Becky’s expertise and experience in diabetes care and education will be a real asset as she moves into the role of Chair. She also has a long history of volunteer leadership roles, providing her with exceptional skills in that area, too. And, last, but definitely not least, her passion and commitment are such strong reflections of who she is and of what she brings with her to the organization.” said CBDCE’s Chief Executive Officer Sheryl Traficano, MBA, CAE.
“As we enter 2022 with continuing uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope those holding the CDCES credential know how valuable they are. CBDCE is happy to move forward with a new strategic plan. The plan includes strategies that emphasize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We aim to continue to increase the visibility and value of the CDCES credential along with expanding the number of certificants, including those with diverse backgrounds, opinions, and experiences. I’m excited to see what opportunities this year will bring and I am ready to collaborate with CBDCE staff, our board of directors, and certificants as we meet the challenges as well.” said Sulik.
Sulik works at a busy endocrinology clinic in Southeast Idaho and interacts with all age groups of people who have different types of diabetes. Most of her practice time is spent working with children, teens, and young adults with type 1 diabetes. As a teenager, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and struggled with the overly restrictive lifestyle prescribed, along with the lack of information.
Her experience with an RDN/CDCES at the time was very empowering, as this health care professional helped her make diabetes livable, rather than a prison. Sulik’s mission is to help reduce the burden of caring for diabetes, particularly in food and nutrition. She also has experience and training with eating disorders and aims to get rid of the “food police” mentality when discussing food, nutrition planning, and eating patterns. She is passionate about diabetes-related technology and considers herself a “diabetes nerd!”
Sulik’s other volunteer activities have included serving as a Commissioner for the Commission on Dietetic Registration and as a faculty-member for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation PEAK Program. She has served on various committees and task-forces, focusing on payment and reimbursement. She is a member of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, American Diabetes Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was eager to contribute her experience and insights to promoting and strengthening the CDCES credential because of the impact someone holding this credential had in her early patient experience with type 1 diabetes.
“I hope to help others to see the value of the CDCES credential and the importance of the distinction earning the credential brings. Physicians, other providers, payors, legislators, and people with or at risk for diabetes can all benefit from the services of a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). I hope our combined efforts will allow all stakeholders to recognize and embrace this value and use professionals who hold our certification to reduce individual and collective burdens of diabetes. I am a firm believer that certification and credentialing help recognize experts in their fields as well as to ensure that those receiving services are well-protected from misinformation that is so prevalent in the healthcare arena. I hope to do my part to help ensure the quality and integrity of the CDCES credential.” said Sulik.
Learn more about Becky Sulik by visiting her LinkedIn profile.