The SEAD Evolution: Our History

The SEAD Program was originally established at the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 by our director, Dr. Shivani Agarwal. In 2018, the SEAD Program followed Dr. Agarwal as she began her time at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and at Montefiore’s Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism. At this time, the program only had 1 endocrinologist and 1 diabetes nurse practitioner.

In 2019, the SEAD Program gained a diabetes psychologist, dietician, social needs coordinator/technology specialist, as well as endocrinology fellow trainees.

Cut to where we are now, and the SEAD Program now includes a variety of providers from endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, dietitians, to program coordinators and patient advisors, all as a recognition that people need whole-person, not partial care.

The SEAD Program has continued to improve diabetes technology uptake in young adults with type 1 diabetes due to its multi-disciplinary program model, ground-breaking research studies, and drive to ensure young adults transitioning into adult care receive high quality and consistent healthcare.