Press release:
Jerry P. Palmer, MD, from Des Moines will receive the American Diabetes Association’s prestigious Outstanding Physician Clinician in Diabetes Award. The award will be presented at the Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions that will take place in San Diego, CA, June 24-28.

The Outstanding Physician Clinician in Diabetes Award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding efforts in diabetes care and is recognized as a highly regarded clinician and educator with more than 10 years of distinguished service.

"Dr. Palmer has contributed tremendously to unlocking the mysteries of the immune system and expanding learning about diabetes," said Linda Henderson, Executive Director, American Diabetes Association of Washington.

Currently a professor in the Department of Medicine and director of the Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center, University of Washington, and chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Palmer has a distinguished career as clinician, educator, mentor, and scientist.

Known internationally for his discovery of insulin autoantibodies, Palmer also is held in high regard locally as a clinician, in part because he implements research findings to help patients. Palmer was a principal investigator of the Seattle Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) site. Realizing the importance of the multidisciplinary approach, he created the Diabetes Care Center within the University of Washington. This clinic has developed an international reputation as a premier academic diabetes center.

Palmer is also a clinician and teacher in the Veterans Affairs Endocrine Clinic, a popular clinic for students, residents and fellows.
Palmer has served on the board of the American Diabetes Association’s Washington affiliate (1975-1983), and on the national board (1994-1997). He was on the National Institutes of Health steering committee for the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1 (DPT-1) and now for Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, and is on the international executive committee for the TRIGR study.
More than 13,000 top scientists, physicians and other health care professionals from around the world will share cutting edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes at the Association’s Scientific Sessions in San Diego.

Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Diabetes contributes to the deaths of more than 231,000 Americans each year. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is more than $174 billion; further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total diabetes-related costs in the United States could exceed $218 billion.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.