DOM Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program (ELDEP)

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, we are proud to shine a spotlight on the remarkable individuals within the Division of Endocrinology at the Department of Medicine (DOM), led by Guillermo Umpierrez, MD. Originally from Ecuador, Dr. Umpierrez embarked on his American journey over four decades ago after he became a faculty member at Emory University’s School of Medicine.

Dr. Umpierrez’s passion and dedication led to the establishment of the Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program (ELDEP) in 2005. ELDEP marked a significant milestone as the first nationally accredited, all-Spanish Diabetes Education program exclusively committed to providing diabetes education and lifestyle intervention services to Georgia’s vibrant Latino community.  The core mission of the Latino Diabetes Education Program is to enhance diabetes care for Latinos by offering comprehensive diabetes training programs for both individuals living with diabetes and the healthcare professionals entrusted with their care.

In the spirit of ‘Viva más y mejor… con su diabetes bajo control!’ (Live longer and better with your diabetes under control!), ELDEP strives to improve the quality of life for individuals grappling with diabetes. ELDEP primarily focuses on Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) and Diabetes Self-Management Support (DSMS) for Latino patients aged 16 and older who are managing type 2 diabetes. The program’s dual objectives are to deliver a culturally sensitive diabetes education program in Spanish and to train and equip healthcare professionals, diabetes educators, and advocates with the resources to empower Latino patients with diabetes through education and social support.

According to the Assistant Program Director of the Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program, Ina Flores, MS, RD, CDCES, “The ELDEP has had a profound and positive impact on the lives of Atlanta’s Hispanic community. Through our program, Latinos dealing with diabetes, as well as their families, now have invaluable access to diabetes care that has significantly enhanced their quality of life.”

Dr. Umpierrez’s unwavering commitment to research has led to the formation of a dynamic diabetes research team. This team, comprised of international professionals from 10 different countries, conducts research in diabetes, metabolism, and obesity.  Many of these trials directly benefit the Hispanic/Latino community.

Meet the ELDEP and Research Team:

The ELDEP and Diabetes Research teams includes Francisco Pasquel, M.D., M.P.H, Guillermo Umpierrez, MD, Assistant Program Director of the ELDEP and the Diabetes Education Training Academy, Ina Flores, MS, RD CDCES; five Clinical Research Coordinators, Maria Agustina Urrutia, Eduard Castejon, Gloria Centeno, Emmelin Moreno, and Zohyra Zabala; and two Postdoctoral Fellows of Research, Gerardo Blanco and Lizda Itzel Guerrero Arroyo. Together, they work tirelessly to advance diabetes care, research, and support, exemplifying the essence of Hispanic Heritage Month and its celebration of unity, progress, and cultural richness. To learn more about the ELDEP and these research teams,  please visit the Diabetes Patient Resources webpage or the Diabetes Education Center webpage.

(Shown in photo at the top of the article, from left to right, Emmelin Moreno, Eduard Castejon, Gerardo Blanco, Guillermo Umpierrez, MD, Bobak Moazzami, Zohyra Zabala, Farbod Tajrishi, and Ina Flores.)