Southern Slipstream 2023

Amy Burrows

Amy has had type one diabetes for 34 years. Hailing from Beaverton ON, Amy enjoys spending her time outdoors canoe tripping and hiking with her friends, family, partner Jeremy and her dogs. She spends her days working in dentistry in Uxbridge.

Lucy McGroarty

Lucinda (Lucy) McGroarty is a creative and driven individual with a passion for art and design. With a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design and a Master's degree in Design, Lucy has honed her skills in various mediums, including space planning, storytelling, and digital media. In addition to her work as a freelance designer, Lucy has served as a design professor, educating and inspiring the next generation of creatives. In her free time, Lucy enjoys hiking and reading with her husband Adam and their son Teo, and finding inspiration in the beauty of the outdoors.

Becca Burnett

Rebecca is a young adult specializing in Psychology and Political Science. She grew up overseas in South East Asia before coming to the US for university. She is excited to bring her international perspective to the diabetes sector.

Krystle Samai

Krystle attended UC Berkeley and majored in Public Health -- Go Bears! The majority of her career has been in the field of diabetes and nonprofit organizations, with a brief stint in for-profit marketing and community relations at a small biotech startup as well as Medtronic Diabetes. But Krystle’s heart belongs to the world of community-centric programming, and credits her love for the nonprofit sector (and the outdoors) to her first summer job directing a Leaders-in-Training program at a diabetes camp in Northern California. She’s excited to help The Diabetes Link continue to grow and enable powerful peer connections for young adults living with T1D!

Anna Rambo

Anna is a non-profit professional of almost 10 years and has been living with type 1 diabetes for almost 25! Anna completed her bachelor’s degree in public health from Georgia College and State University and has since worked as a non-profit fundraiser and program director at JDRF, ADA, and now Camp Kudzu. As the Director of Programs at Camp Kudzu, she oversees all operations of the organizations’ year-round programming from volunteer recruitment to planning the schedules!

Anna has a passion for giving back to the type 1 community and enjoys seeing the work that camps do for individuals young and old! She lives in Athens, GA with her fiancé and likes to spend her time with friends, petting dogs, dabbling in art projects, and rooting for Clemson football!

Antoine Gibson

Antoine Gibson began his musical journey in 2004. In January of 2010, he, along with three high school, formed the hip-hop and r&b based jazz band TraVerse. For two years, TraVerse changed the Metro Atlanta music scene by adding a new flavor of jazz/hip-hop fusion. Post graduation from high school, Antoine continued his education at the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. There in Tallahassee, he became active in FAMU's Marching 100, university jazz band, wind symphony, and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. while playing around in venues around Florida and Georgia with the 3-Point Brass Band. While in school, he had the opportunity to participate in the VH1 movie “Drumline 2: A New Beat” which lead to a minor acting role in the BET show, “The Quad", where he also arranged and recorded music for the series. His 2022 debut album, “Tales from the Eastside”, pays homage to his hometown and life experiences, including living with type 1 diabetes in the song entitled “Mellitus”.

In 2017 Antoine founded Mutali Music, LLC - a music production, arranging, and composition company. In May of 2023, he founded the non-profit Mutali Diabetes, with the purpose of serving the diabetic community through concerts, festivals, and other musical initiatives, as well as providing educational and camp scholarships and resources to kids in need.

Jen Hanson

Jen has grown up with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed in 1987, she has never let diabetes stop her from pursuing her passion. Jen is the Executive Director of Connected in Motion, where she works to bridge the gap between clinical care and 'real life' for adults with Type 1 diabetes. Jen also works with the Children with DIabetes youth program, as well as the Type 1 Think Tank. She has volunteered around the world with the Young Leaders in Diabetes, and been involved with Camp Huronda and the Diabetes Education and Camping Association. Jen is on the Leadership Council with Beyond Type 1. She loves to travel, be outside, and spend time at her cabin with her family. Jen is a Registered Kinesiologist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Teacher. She has a Masters Degree in Education, focused on Experiential Diabetes Education.

Jennie Clayton

Jennie grew up around photography (her father was a photographer) and picked up a camera in 2016 to give it a try and fell in love. She has 4 boys, 3 of whom have Type 1 diabetes since ages 2, 4 and 6. Camp Kudzu has been an important part of her family for decades. When Jennie is not doing work with Kudzu, she is working on her father's collection of historic photographs.

Julie De Vos

Julie has spent much of her life volunteering and working in the T1D community. These passions led her to a degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences and a career path in the diabetes industry, focused on building programs and communities for not-for-profit diabetes organizations. Today, Julie is a Registered Kinesiologist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Health Coach. She is passionate about living life to its fullest and helping those in the diabetes community thrive.

Tyler Lovelace

Bio coming soon!

Anna Sabino

Anna has been living with T1D for over 30 years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and earned her Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Her areas of expertise include family dynamics, crisis management, anxiety, depression, burnout, and post-traumatic stress. Through her private practice, Finding Smiles Coaching, Anna has fulfilled her mission of serving the diabetes community both nationally and internationally. In addition to providing individual counseling, she has nearly 20 years of experience creating and overseeing youth and family programs with organizations such as the College Diabetes Network (Diabetes Link), International Diabetes Federation, American Diabetes Association, and the T1D Exchange.

Bambi Northwood-Blyth

Bambi Northwood-Blyth, the Australian born supermodel received her big break when she walked in a Balenciaga show in Paris for her first-ever runway show. She followed this up with shows for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel numerous times. Shortly thereafter, Bambi booked her first-ever advertising campaign, Calvin Klein’s CK One fragrance, photographed by Steven Meisel. Widely admired for her carefree personality she is quite the skilled businesswoman, having a degree in social entrepreneurship and founding her first company this year.
With her infectious smile and never-ending supply of energy, and of course, those artfully untamed eyebrows, Bambi has had the pleasure of working with Armani, Ralph Lauren, Make Up Forever, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, and Cartier. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, V Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Oyster, and Glamour to name a few.
As a young woman living with Type 1 diabetes, Bambi is an outspoken advocate demonstrating how to manage her condition while simultaneously striving for your dreams.
In addition to an explosive career in fashion, Bambi has acted as well as serving as a music presenter on Channel V.

Brianna Schiavoni

Diagnosed with T1D at age 14, Brianna wanted nothing more than to escape her mind and body as she transitioned from adolescence into adulthood. During the years of numbing, running and hiding - that followed - she found that yoga and meditation would ultimately provide her with the sanctuary she so desperately needed; but couldn’t sit still long enough to explore these practices until understanding the nuances of also having ADHD. Brianna's values, character strengths and skill sets led her into the fields of psychology and medical social work, but despite a colorful resume with plenty of fancy titles, she is perfectly imperfect.

Christina Martin

After Christina was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 13 years old, she started a club at her high school that today, is a non-profit organization providing every-day support to Central Florida families impacted by diabetes. Two years ago, she became the first female with type 1 diabetes to compete on NBC's American Ninja Warrior. Christina now stands on stages around the country where she helps to empower both children and adults to create their own paths to success and help others to do the same.

Dr Julia Blanchette

Dr. Julia Blanchette, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDCES, is a Nurse Scientist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. She received her BSN and PhD from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in 2014 and 2019. She completed the ADCES/CBDCE Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Integrated Diabetes Management at the University of Utah College of Nursing in 2021. She has been a certified insulin pump trainer since she became a Registered Nurse in 2014. She has pump and CGM experience in the inpatient, outpatient, diabetes camp and virtual care settings for people living with diabetes across the lifespan. She has a particular interest in young adult diabetes technology but has expertise for all age groups across the lifespan. She has also lived with T1D for almost 25 years!

Sarah Rodarte

Sarah is an RN IBCLC located in the Jacksonville, FL area. Helping those in need of support with breastfeeding is her passion. She offers assistance with latching and positioning, breast refusal, low weight gain, nipple pain, oral ties, pumping, breastfeeding education, and emotional support for mom, baby, and family. Her goal is to always protect, promote, and support breastfeeding for every individual. Sarah has been a type 1 diabetic since she was 8 years old. In her 15 years of working with patients, she has formed a unique bond with each of those who are type 1. She often looks back on her own confusing days at the time of her diagnosis, the rebellious days as a teenager, and the roller coaster ride of pregnancy and the postpartum period, and remembers the significant challenges of them all. As a result, she always tries to look at things from the patient's perspective, not just her own, in her practice. She is very excited to be here this weekend to educate, learn, and grow with everyone!