Jacqueline LaManna, director of UCF’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program and assistant professor at the College of Nursing, is among six experts inducted in the class of 2020 fellows of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.

The fellow designation from the association recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to diabetes care and education through clinical practice, research, education or health policy.

“Jackie is the embodiment of who we want providing care and education to people with diabetes,” says Lacie M. Peterson, director of the Utah State University Dietetic Internship and finance leader of the Utah Coordinating Body of the association.

LaManna has made countless contributions to support the health and wellbeing of individuals with diabetes.

A certified diabetes care and education specialist for more than 25 years and board-certified advanced diabetes management nurse practitioner for 15, LaManna has made countless contributions to support the health and wellbeing of individuals with diabetes.

She began her career as a hospital-based diabetes patient educator and became an advanced practice clinician in diabetes care. She has developed and managed diabetes self-management education and support programs, facilitated support groups, advised and assisted clinics in achieving program recognition from the American Diabetes Association, and led diabetes care quality-improvement projects. Additionally, LaManna successfully advocated to establish pro-bono diabetes care services for uninsured women with diabetes-complicated pregnancies and coordinated a pharmacy patient assistance program for underinsured individuals.

A researcher and recognized scholar in the field, LaManna has published works in peer-reviewed journals, outreach publications and book chapters, and given more than 60 presentations across the nation. In 2018, she was first author on an American Association of Diabetes Educators systemic review on the impacts of diabetes self-management support and education on hypoglycemia outcomes. The findings are cited in the Endocrine Society’s interprofessional position paper on hypoglycemia outcomes. Currently, she has funding to study care transition needs of women following diabetes-complicated pregnancies. She is also leading a team of volunteer researchers conducting a systematic review examining evidence and gaps in diabetes self-management support and education and quality of life outcomes.

At UCF, where she has been on faculty for 15 years, LaManna serves as the diabetes content expert at the College of Nursing and mentors DNP students in diabetes care performance improvement projects. She is also the lead clinician with the Endocrine Specialty Clinic caring for pregnant women at the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County. The program was recognized by the State of Florida for its positive impacts on maternal and infant mortality.

Additionally, LaManna currently serves on the Research Committee of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Diabetes Association Clinical Conference Planning Committee, and the National Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence Award Selection Committee.

LaManna is one of 19 distinguished national faculty fellows at the UCF College of Nursing.