JJ was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in his last year of college, just a couple of months before starting medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. He first attended DTC as a camper in 2009 and has since joined the staff as Medical Lead. He is thrilled to join the DTC staff because he had so much fun at camp, made lifelong friendships with staff and other campers and learned so much sustainable and valuable information about managing his diabetes that he wanted to be at camp every single year.
JJ has worked as an emergency medicine physician for over 20 years and is currently working in the emergency rooms at Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, both in suburban Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, he is also the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Arizona General Hospital – Mesa.
JJ’s wife Nina and children Kara and Luke are the center of his life. He loves being with his family, RV camping, traveling to his kids’ fencing tournaments, woodworking, learning to weld, cycling and short triathlons. He also makes a point to say that he loves
the DTC community because they have been life changing and have been a great support network of motivated successful people with diabetes.
Fun Fact about JJ: When he retires, he wants to raise alfalfa hay and travel in a motor home just exploring America and collecting stories.
