HEADWATERS HEALTH CARE CENTRE'S Diabetes Care Program members Kathryn MacDonald, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator; Dr. Gord Willans and Dr. Ron Murphy, Paediatrician wish Jane Blears (centre) a happy retirement. Absent from photo: Dr. Peter Clarke, Endocrinologist, Diabetes Care Program at Headwaters Health Care Centre. Jane Blears, who has spent two decades promoting the cause of community based diabetes care, is retiring.

"The time has gone by fast. Many of the children I worked with are now adults, it is going to be difficult to say goodbye to them," said the registered nurse who has spent 22 years at Orangeville hospitals, latterly as Certified Diabetes Educator at Headwaters Health Care Centre.

Jane joined Dufferin Area Hospital in 1977 as a registered nurse and has devoted the last 20 years to diabetes care and education for clients and their families.

The Headwaters Diabetes Care team has designed and implemented diabetes care programs for people with diabetes as well as training courses for health care providers focusing on the skills, attitudes and on how care is provided in order to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.

Jane and long-time colleague Kathryn MacDonald, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator pioneered the Diabetes Care Program at Headwaters and are recognized across the province as advocates for community-based, multi-disciplinary diabetes care.

"Jane is well known at Headwaters where she has worked with diabetes clients and their families in Dufferin and Caledon for the past 20 years. Her legacy of first class diabetes care will continue on in our community and at Headwaters Health Care Centre," said Dr. Gord Willans.

"It was Jane's reputation as a diabetes educator which cemented my interest in joining Headwaters' Diabetes Care Program," said Dr. Peter Clarke, endocrinologist for the Diabetes Care Program.

"Today the hospital provides adult, pediatric nd gestational diabetes care, and our diabetes educators work with adults with complex insulin regimes. We all will miss Jane tremendously," Dr. Clarke added.

"Headwaters' Diabetes Care Program provides a quality and level of service not available to communities of a similar size," said Headwaters pediatrician Dr. Ron Murphy.

"Her work in patientcentred diabetes care has built Headwaters' Diabetes Care Program into a model for other communities," said Liz Ruegg, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive at Headwaters. "The work Jane and her colleagues have done to provide community diabetes care has ensured that individuals living with diabetes, those newly diagnosed and those at risk of developing diabetes have access to the program whether or not they have a family physician."

The Diabetes Care team acts as coaches and cheerleaders by listening, reflecting and having respect for people's experiences with diabetes.

"Our role as diabetes care providers is to empower and provide hope," said Kathryn MacDonald, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. "We support a person's choices in a non-judgmental manner that builds an ongoing, trusting relationship."

"Jane's commitment to the diabetes program and passion to improve the quality of life for both adult and pediatric patients is commendable," said Ms. Ruegg. "The hospital thanks her and wishes her an enjoyable and wellearned retirement."

For more information on the program please call 519-941-2702 ext. 2525 or visit the hospital website www.headwatershealth.ca and select patient care services on the home page.