Blackburn Institute

Student Fellow Dana Lewis Testifies at Congressional Hearing

September 9, 2008

I was called the first week in March by the American Diabetes Association Federal Affairs team, who I have previously worked with on other projects including when I spoke at a briefing about the developments in diabetes care technology from the patient perspective (discussing glucose monitors, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, etc) last fall. In February, the ADA received a call from Senator Kennedy’s office asking for a witness for a hearing focused on the need for increased funding for the NIH. I agreed to talk to them and then had a phone interview with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee staffers, who selected me to testify over three other interviewees involved with other patient organizations.

I prepared my testimony myself, only knowing that the hearing would coincide with the release of a new study by Harvard detailing the negative impact of flat lined budgets for the NIH in the future. I tried to bring the patient perspective into the room with my testimony, which described being diagnosed with diabetes and what I have to do to take care of diabetes on a daily basis. I also explained the improvements in technology that I have seen in the five years I have lived with diabetes. I then pleaded, for lack of better words, for Congress to consider increasing the budget for NIH because research brings me, and millions of other Americans affected by diabetes and other chronic illnesses, hope for a cure and improves treatment while we wait for cures. The testimony was sent to members of the Committee ahead of time, and they all read it before the hearing.

In the hearing, I sat beside the Dean of Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine and two seats down from the President of Harvard. We each gave an abbreviated version of our testimonies and then answered questions with our expertise (and in my case, experience). Although the older members of the panel sometimes fought over the microphone, Senator Kennedy gave me the opportunity to make another statement during the hearing about how NIH research translates into increased education and awareness of disease in the communities, which in turn have a greater impact on improving healthy lifestyles and prevention.

The experience was amazing to say the least. I never thought I would be testifying in front of a committee of US Senators at age 20. My hope is that the diabetes education can be increased due to my participation in events such as this and my involvement with the American Diabetes Association.

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