Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/11/2012 -- The first diabetes conference focusing on the unique business and administrative challenges of providing disease specific healthcare services has been announced by producer, GTC. The Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference is scheduled May 15-17, 2012 at the Meliá Atlanta hotel.

The Conference kicks off with a keynote address from The Joint Commission on the topic, Accreditation Standards for Disease Specific Certification. Preceding the main Conference, the pre-Summit Workshop “Developing a Sustainable Healthcare Business Model” is a special half-day event on May 15th.

“After speaking with several executives at diabetes departments and centers,” said James Liu, president of GTC, “a clear message we received was the real need for a conference focusing on leadership issues from a case study approach presented by diabetes [healthcare provider] leaders. There is no other forum focusing on the business needs of a diabetes center and there is a need for executives to hear directly from their colleagues which administrative approaches have been successful.”

Confirmed speakers at the Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference include:

- John L. Brooks III, President and Chief Executive Officer, Joslin Diabetes Center
- Manisha Chandalia, MD, Director, Stark Diabetes Center, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Les Jebson, Executive Director, The University of Florida Diabetes Center of Excellence
- Gail Nunlee-Bland, Director and Chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes Treatment Center, Howard University Hospital
- Beth Pfeffer, RN, BSN, CDE, Director Diabetes Services, The Nebraska Medical Center
- Marian Rewers, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics & Medicine, Clinical Director, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine
- Abby Schwartz, RN BSN MBA, Director of Nursing for Business Development, Mount Sinai Hospital
- Linda M. Siminerio, PhD, Executive Director, University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute

The Diabetes Centers of Excellence Conference is part of the larger, Healthcare Centers of Excellence Summit that also includes the tracks, Cardiac Centers of Excellence Conference and Cancer Centers of Excellence Conference. This unique event provides exceptional learning and networking opportunities.