The Strength of Women

Photo Courtesy of Jensen Sutta 

DANA DAVIS

Type 1 diabetes is both a personal and professional calling

As the executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, Dana Davis oversees a team that runs operations, events and finances for the organization, which is the fundraising, care and educational arm of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. A typical day for Dana involves meeting potential donors and sponsors, conducting tours of the CDF’s campus, and getting updates on events that range from medical conferences to celebrity-studded galas such as the Carousel Ball, held annually in Denver. 

However, Dana’s connection is much more personal than her job title suggests. It has been 50 years since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, and her parents, Barbara and Marvin Davis, created the center. The BDC treats 8,000 patients annually from 36 states and 43 countries as well as conducts research. Davis says that Type 1 diabetes is easier to manage and live with than it was when she was a child. “Technology has been a game-changer,” she says, noting that glucose monitoring pumps, refined insulins and cell modification play a role in treating diabetes or delaying its onset.

One of the favorite parts of her job is meeting with patients. “Teaching taught me how to interact with kids,” she says of her education career before joining CDF. “Because I have diabetes, I’m not afraid to talk about it. We can connect in a truly deep way.”

Dana is upbeat despite having three other autoimmune diseases besides Type 1. She credits her beloved Jack Russell terrier, Hunter, with helping her through tough days. She also enjoys going to concerts. “Listening to music and being around people makes me feel good. The bottom line is that I’m exhausted a lot, but when you can do something that makes you smile, it helps you stay strong. It’s about finding where your love and passion are.”