NIDDK Director's Update Winter 2014

Director's Note

Photo of Dr. Rodgers at mic
Credit: Krysten Carrera
Dr. Rodgers records an episode of the Healthy Moments radio show

At NIDDK, we view the members of the public as our partners. We couldn’t carry out NIDDK’s important research without your support. And so, one of NIDDK’s key values is to clearly communicate our research findings.

NIDDK’s Healthy Moments radio show is one major way NIDDK reaches out to people about health advances stemming from scientific research. Last year, 30 million listeners heard health tips we know have the potential to benefit their lives, from how to avoid weight gain over the holidays to preventing type 2 diabetes. You can read about Healthy Moments later in this issue.

We also reach people through other outlets. In November, about 18 million people nationwide heard from NIDDK staff in print, video and radio as part of National Diabetes Month as we shared tips to improve diabetes-related heart health.

Photo of Dr. Rodgers and Anqoinette Crosby
Credit: WHUT/Howard University Television
Dr. Rodgers speaks with host Anqoinette Crosby on the Howard University-produced TV show, Vocal Points

Along with my NIDDK colleague, nephrologist Dr. Jeffrey Kopp, I participated in the Howard University-produced TV show Vocal Points to discuss sickle cell disease and kidney disease, two conditions that disproportionally affect African Americans, a core audience of the show. Participating in the show enabled us to deliver relevant, proven health messages to this at-risk group—to help empower them and others to take more charge of their health.

Awareness of scientific findings is critical to addressing our most pressing health problems as a nation. As part of a continuing series of C-SPAN segments filmed at NIH, I was honored to speak for NIDDK in September about the impressive research conducted at and funded by our institute, including the artificial pancreas. I trust that by providing information on our newest discoveries, we offered encouragement and helped equip people to make decisions rooted in current science.

We rely on members of the public to give us feedback, fund us through taxes, participate in clinical trials, and support us in many other ways. By communicating what we’ve learned to as many people as possible, we hope we’ll enhance the reach and power of our messages for better health, both now and for years to come.

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