Training Future Leaders in Diabetes

Students With Diabetes (SWD) is an engaging program that educates and encourages young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to advocate for health. The SWD Internship Program offers college students with T1D the unique opportunity to gain professional skills and contacts, and receive workplace experience in the diabetes industry. A variety of experiences are offered to students to reflect the varied components of the public health workforce (Communications, Advocacy, Non-Profit, Sales, Research). The specific emphasis on the diabetes industry enables young adults with T1D to learn how to combine personal diabetes experiences with their talents to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Applications are screened through a competitive process based on academic achievement, skills and commitment to diabetes advocacy. Finalists are matched with host sites in clinical, non-profit, and advocacy diabetes organizations. Selected interns work at host sites during summer semesters. In addition to intern duties, they provide feedback to SWD via an online survey and social media blog posts for program evaluation. 

Participants in the 2013 intern class reported positive experiences with their host site and the overall program. All participants reported increased desires to further advocate in the diabetes community and to become more involved in diabetes service opportunities. Participants also reported learning new leadership skills, discovering more options for employment given their diabetes, and increased confidence in managing their diabetes in the workplace. The evaluation results indicate that the goal of fostering the next generation of health and advocacy professionals in diabetes is being met.