Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award
The Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award is given in memory of Lois Jovanovic, MD, a renowned scientist in the field of diabetes and women’s health who passed away in September 2018. Dr. Jovanovic, who lived with type 1 diabetes herself, drove research that improved neonatal outcomes for other women affected by the disease, and was an iconic woman scientist in the field. Presented by the Women’s Interprofessional Network of the American Diabetes Association (WIN ADA), the Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award recognizes a woman scientist, clinician, educator, or other female professional who has made a significant impact in the field of diabetes and/or in the lives of people affected by the disease.
Nominations are now being accepted until September 15, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award Eligibility Criteria:
• Principal criteria: To recognize a female professional in the diabetes field who has made outstanding contributions to diabetes research, clinical practice, diabetes education, public health, and/or other related disciplines.
• Nominees will be recognized for national and/or international contributions to the field of diabetes. Both U.S. and non-U.S. residents are eligible.
• There are no specific degree requirements.
• Nominees’ contributions to the ADA and to the broader diabetes community may also be taken into consideration.
• Nominees may not be current ADA national officers or have held a national officer position within the past three years.
• Nominees may not be current members of the WIN ADA Advisory Group or serve on the ADA’s Medicine, Science, & Health Care Awards Committee.
Nomination Submission Guidelines:
Nomination packages must include:
• Letter of nomination (no more than 400 words), signed by no more than 3 individuals
• Nominee's biography
• Nominee's curriculum vitae with career and publication highlights, as well as documentation of teaching and mentorship
Nominations are accepted from professional members of the ADA as well as non-members. Nominations from WIN ADA members are highly encouraged and will be solicited.
- Nominations will be accepted at the electronic nomination form.
- In order to submit a nomination, you must log into your DiabetesPro account with an email username and password. Nominators will be asked to disclose any conflicts of interests. The Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman In Diabetes Award is considered a “Professional Membership Award”.
- Nominators will be asked to provide the degree and professional title of the nominee and your co-nominators.
- Please upload all award components as one .pdf document in the submission portal.
- Submissions must be received on or before 8:00 p.m. ET on September 15, 2025.
View the 2026 award profile.
2026 Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award Winner
Jill Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, CDCES, is the recipient of the 2025 Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award. This award recognizes a woman who has made a significant impact in diabetes care, research, education, or public health. Dr. Weissberg-Benchell will give remarks at the Women’s Interprofessional Network of the American Diabetes Association (WIN ADA) reception on Friday, June 20th, 2025.
Jill Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, CDCES, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an Attending Pediatric Psychologist and the Psychology Director of Integrated Care at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She has over 30 years of research experience and clinical work with children, adolescents, and families with diabetes, as well as their families. Her academic position is Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She has funded eight postdoctoral fellows and has served as a mentor to other scholars worldwide. She has authored over 100 articles. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. She is a co-author of two books: one focuses on transitioning from pediatric to adult care, and the other on working with adolescents with type 1 diabetes. She offers workshops and lectures to colleagues and families living with diabetes, addressing issues such as family adaptation and coping, building adolescent resilience, the use of technology (CGM, Pumps, and the Artificial Pancreas), and transitioning from pediatric to adult care. She has served in a variety of leadership roles, including past president of the Behavioral Research in Diabetes Group Exchange (BRIDGE) and chair of the American Diabetes Association’s Youth Strategies National Committee.
Please join us in celebrating Jill Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, CDCES, for her significant contributions to diabetes care, research, education, and public health.
WIN ADA Abstract Awards
We are excited to highlight a select group of abstracts that have been chosen for recognition at the 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
Basic Science: Islet Biology, Immunology, Physiology, or Obesity
188-OR: Uncovering the Mechanisms of Brown Adipose Tissue Aging Using Spatially Resolved Single-Nucleus Transcriptomics
LIYI WANG, KYLIE KAVANAGH, FARNAZ SHAMSI, New York, NY, Winston-Salem, NC
Behavioral Medicine, Nutrition, Exercise, and Education
234-OR: Impact of Initiating Continuous Glucose Monitoring in People with Type 2 Diabetes Not on Insulin—A Randomized Controlled Trial
HOLLY J. WILLIS, SALLY GUSTAFSON, MEGHAN JAKA, RICHARD M. BERGENSTAL, Minneapolis, MN, Bloomington, MN
Clinical Diabetes, Epidemiology, and Diabetes Complications
182-OR: Serum Metabolomic Profiles Link History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus to Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk in U.S. Hispanic/Latino Women
YI WANG, CARMEN R. ISASI, ALISON STUEBE, MARTHA L. DAVIGLUS, ERIC BOERWINKLE, ROBERT BURK, ROBERT KAPLAN, QIBIN QI, BRANDILYN PETERS, Bronx, NY, Chapel Hill, NC, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX
Sex as a Biological Variable
332-OR: Social Isolation and Loneliness and Stroke Risk in Men and Women with Diabetes
XIU WU, YUANHAO ZU, XUAN WANG, YILIN YOSHIDA, New Orleans, LA
Past Award Recipients
2024:
- Francine R. Kaufman, MD (Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award)
- Natalie J. Haywood, PhD (Basic Science: Islet Biology, Immunology, Physiology, or Obesity
- Holly J. Willis, PhD, RDN, CDCES (Behavioral Medicine, Nutrition, Exercise, and Education)
- Yu Mi Kang, MD, PhD (Clinical Diabetes, Epidemiology, and Diabetes Complications)
- Rachel G. Miller, PhD (Sex as a Biological Variable)
2022:
- Maureen Gannon, PhD (Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award)
- Alison Affinati, MD, PhD (Basic Science: Islet Biology, Immunology, Physiology, or Obesity)
- Rebecca Vitale, MD, MPH (Behavioral Medicine, Nutrition, Exercise, and Education)
- Elaine Chow, MBChB, PhD (Clinical Diabetes, Epidemiology, and Diabetes Complications)
2021:
- Linda M. Siminerio, RN, PhD, CDCES (Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award)
- Nida Haider, PhD (Sex as a Biological Variable and Women's Health Abstract Award)
- Carmella Evans-Molina, PhD, MD (Basic Science: Islet Biology, Immunology, Physiology, or Obesity Abstract Award)
- Kimber Simmons, MD, MS (Clinical Diabetes, Epidemiology, and Diabetic Complications Abstract Award)
- Lu Hu, PhD (Behavioral Medicine, Nutrition, Education, and Exercise Abstract Award)
2020:
- Judith E. Fradkin, MD (Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award)
2019:
- Elizabeth R. Seaquist, MD (Lois Jovanovic Transformative Woman in Diabetes Award)
- Danielle Dean, PhD (Basic Science Abstract Award)
- Samantha F. Ehrlich, PhD, MPH (Behavioral Medicine Abstract Award)
- Xiang Liu, PhD (Clinical Diabetes Abstract Award)
- Aki T-B. Chaffin, PhDc (Sex as a Biological Variable Abstract Award)
2018:
- Chelsea Hutch, PhD (Basic Science Abstract Award)
- Michelle Perfect, PhD (Behavioral Medicine Abstract Award)
- Maisa Feghali, MD (Clinical Diabetes Abstract Award)
- Durga Singer, MA, MD (Sex as Biological Variable Abstract Award)