BDI mission
BDI teamMeet the BDI Team
Dr. Liana Abascal
Director of Adolescent & Family Services/Eating Disorders Program
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Dr. Polonsky, PhD, CDE is also an Associate Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Yale University and has served as Chairman of the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, Senior Psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, and Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is an active researcher in behavioral diabetes, with his most recent projects focusing on the utility of home blood glucose monitoring in type 2 diabetes, the emotional and behavioral consequences of being diagnosed with diabetes, and the value of diabetes self-management support training for health care professionals.
Dr. Polonsky has served on the editorial boards of numerous professional and lay publications, including Diabetes Care, Diabetes Forecast, Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes Self-Management and Diabetes Health. A licensed clinical psychologist and certified diabetes educator, he has also authored Diabetes Burnout: What to Do When You Can’t Take it Anymore, a book for patients published by the American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Guzman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in diabetes, both as a researcher as well as a clinician. She developed and leads the multi-week depression series, “Feeling Good Again: Breaking the Depression/Diabetes Connection”. She is also project coordinator for BDI's Behavioral and Emotional Attitudes towards Diabetes (BEAD) study, which investigates the impact of type 2 diabetes following diagnosis, and has previously been involved in studies examining family-based interventions in diabetes as well as psychological insulin resistance.
Her clinical interests include diabetes-related family issues, depression and diabetes, and the art of living well with diabetes. Dr. Guzman previously served as the psychological liaison to Scripps Health’s Diabetes Advisory Committee and team psychologist for the Healing Hearts Program at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, a comprehensive lifestyle change program for people with heart disease.
Dr. Liana Abascal, PhD, MPH is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral health issues in teens and adults. She has been involved in both research and clinical work related to chronic disease prevention and management, especially related to diabetes, obesity, and eating disorders. Dr. Abascal received her PhD from the San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and her MPH from San Diego State University.
As the newest member of the team at Behavioral Diabetes Institute, she develops and delivers a range of group programs for teens and their families as well as comprehensive interventions for patients with diabetes who are struggling with eating disorders.
Dr. Fisher, PhD is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and a professor in the Departments of Family & Community Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is the author of over 120 papers published in peer reviewed journals and is currently an Associate Editor of Diabetes Care. Dr. Fisher has been the principal investigator of several NIH-funded research programs of research that addressed the personal, cultural, family and care-related aspects of diabetes self-management. He has also been the principal investigator of several NIH- and ADA-funded longitudinal studies to assess factors associated with depression and distress among patients with diabetes, and on interventions to improve the collaborative family management of diabetes and to reduce diabetes distress and burnout over time.
Dr. Fisher is also an investigator on two NIH-funded studies to assist primary care practices to improve the care of patients with diabetes. He has won two major UCSF School of Medicine teaching awards since 2001, was nominated for the UCSF Postdoctoral Scholars Association Outstanding Mentorship Award, and has received a certificate from the American Psychological Association in “Recognition for Substantial Contributions to the Field of Family Psychology and Health.” He maintains an active clinical practice and consults with a variety of professional organizations nationally.
Dennis Gooler, PhD joined BDI in March, 2013, as its first Executive Director. Dennis has lived with Type 1 diabetes for more than 50 years. Dennis grew up in northern Minnesota, was a middle school teacher in Minnesota for several years. He completed his PhD in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and subsequently joined the faculty at Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, Dennis began his administrative career: he has served as Dean of three large Colleges of Education, including an online graduate school of education.
Later in his career, Dennis joined a research and development nonprofit laboratory, focusing on applying technologies to teaching and learning. He was appointed a Visiting Scholar at Pacific Resources for Education and Learning in Honolulu, a laboratory serving educational needs in Hawaii and Pacific islands. Following this appointment, Dennis completed a Master of Library Science degree, and was employed at the San Diego Public Library system for 5 years.
Dennis has a strong commitment to the mission of BDI, both as a professional educator, and as someone who personally understands the challenges facing those with diabetes. He understands the importance of the emotional aspects of life with diabetes, and intends to help BDI expand its offerings to the substantial numbers of adults who face the challenges of living with diabetes, and who appreciate the kind of support BDI provides.
Martin Lafontaine
As a Marketing Product Manager for GlaxoSmithKline International, Martin Lafontaine is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of new product launches in more than 120 countries, including Latin America, Middle-East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Australia, China and Russia. Mr. Lafontaine has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, occupying various roles in sales, performance enhancement/training and marketing in various therapeutic areas, including diabetes management. His personal and professional interests are focused on diabetes and the worldwide need for more optimal care. Mr. Lafontaine's passion for diabetes has solid roots, beginning at age 13 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He dedicates his free time to inspiring and challenging his peers with diabetes to free themselves from self-imposed limitations and supporting their efforts to live long, happy and healthy lives.
