[ HAWAII AT WORK ]
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Majken Mechling laces up for Hawaii's Walk for Diabetes.
Diabetes leader hopes
for day when group
no longer neededI've just come on board, on the job only 90 days, but you could say I really hit the ground running -- or at least walking!
What keeps me moving? I am deeply disturbed by the fact that Hawaii ranks in the top three nationwide in diabetes cases per capita, particularly Type 2 diabetes. This is especially alarming because Type 2 can be managed, even prevented, by living the right lifestyle.
My goal is to direct the American Diabetes Association to fulfill its mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
Majken Mechling
Title: Executive directorOrganization: American Diabetes Association
Time on the job: Three months
First priority: To increase the profile of the ADA's annual Hawaii's Walk for Diabetes, taking place Saturday at Kapiolani Park
Walk information: 947-5979 or walk.diabetes.org
We're trying to assess and then refocus the services ADA provides. One such area is to increase the visibility of our key programs like diabetes camp for kids, patient education, professional education and our school-based program, Diabetes & You.
In the near future we'll align with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association on areas that reach across the board and affect us all -- like obesity. It's all about healthy choices. People are often in denial or just not aware, but it really comes down to eat right, get moderate regular exercise, stop (or don't start) smoking and see a doctor for checkups.
I've spent the last six years with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International in Hawaii, so I have some tenure in this area.
My academic training is in social work. I did internships in college with a couple of nonprofit organizations, and I decided if I really wanted to make a difference in our community, nonprofit management was where I needed to be. I've been doing it ever since.
I started out in substance abuse programs. It seemed to me that health care issues were the primary concerns of our community and the lifestyle of our community, and I wanted to stay in that area.
Battling diabetes can seem like an uphill climb. I keep walking back in here every day because if I can help one family address their needs or change their lifestyle, I've done my job. My ultimate goal is to put the American Diabetes Association out of business.
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