Our board of directors
Blair Burns
Blair was diagnosed with T1D in 1991 at age 11, and diabetes camp has been a part of her since the summer of 1992.
With the PMA (positive mental attitude) she found at camp, Blair was able to recognize the value of strong friendships, community, and teamwork through the programs offered. She continued as a camper and then a counselor until 2010. Today, Blair continues to apply and share all the valuable lessons from camp with friends and strangers alike.
After taking time to start her family, Blair has returned with a renewed focus on The DFC and our mission. Through the power of community, Blair's goal in serving the DFC is to expand the reach of our programs throughout North Carolina, like PMA Airlift and Camp to Community - working together to show the T1D community that they aren't alone and what joy having a positive outlook in life can provide.
Blair lives in Charlotte with her husband and son. She is a bowling mom and wife on the weekends. With almost 20 years in the IT industry, she now works as a Client Operations Specialist at AHEAD based out of Chicago.
Contact Blair: Blair@thedfc.org
Brent Gilbert
Brent Gilbert was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 10 and attended diabetes camp that same summer. It was there that he found a community of friends and support that has provided the confidence and positive mental attitude he attributes with helping him live a healthy and full life. After his time as a camper, Brent continued his involvement with camp by volunteering as a counselor for a number of years. The relationships formed through his involvement in camp have been lifelong, and he looks at the DFC and its community as family. Brent’s goal in serving the DFC is to share the positive impact, support, life lessons, and sense of community that he’s been fortunate enough to experience through his involvement with diabetes camp and the DFC family.
Brent lives in Wake Forest with his wife, Holly, and their two sons, Peyton and Logan. Professionally, he works as part of the leadership team for an industrial technology company, focusing on global business development and strategic partnerships.
Contact Brent: brent@thedfc.org
Diana Miller
Diana has been living with T1D for nearly 30 years. She has had the privilege to join in supporting the DFC through volunteering at Camp Morris and now by serving on our Board of Directors. She is a huge believer in the benefits of surrounding oneself in PMA and people who support and understand T1D. She has been thrilled to support other d-camps and diabetes advocacy groups for over 15 years, but Camp Morris is one of the best she has ever been a part of. She encourages all people with diabetes to find joy in all of life’s (and T1D's) ups and downs. D-camp is a great place to practice this! She has never let diabetes dictate her path—even though it fuels her passion.
Professionally, Diana is a Pediatric Endocrinologist. She was in practice in Western NY and Charlotte, NC before making the leap over to the biotech industry where she is now a Medical Director for a company that develops therapeutics focused on intervening early in autoimmune diseases. She lives in Charlotte where she is a wife and mother to two vibrant little girls.
Contact Diana: diana@thedfc.org
Emily Barger
Emily has been living with T1D since she was 10 years old. Since day one, her endocrinologist told her “a girls gotta' do what a girls gotta do”, and she has never let diabetes slow her down. That same year, Emily started attending diabetes camp and she has never missed a summer since! Emily transitioned from a camper to a counselor, and is now the Program Coordinator for the Dreamers program at Camp Morris. She cannot imagine life without her large diabetes family.
By day, Emily works as a Graphic Designer at BRG Communications, and she also runs the Instagram page @diabeticdesigns, where she shares positive and funny diabetes content. Originally from Charlotte, Emily resides in Arlington, VA, where she can be found riding her road bike, taking pottery classes, or playing volleyball in her free time.
Contact Emily: emily@thedfc.org
Galen Horton
Galen Horton has been involved with diabetes camp since he was diagnosed at age 14. At that age, when he learned he had diabetes, he was surrounded by great support from his family and his healthcare team. Dr. Mary Ann Morris was his endocrinologist from day one and positively empowered Galen to dream big and gave him the best possible path to a healthy and successful life with diabetes. Dr. Morris’ partner and diabetes educator, Jean Litton, was the one that challenged Galen to attend camp that first summer. Fast forward through the past 37 years and Galen is still as passionate about camp and it’s impacts as he was as a teenager. In fact, he hasn’t missed a summer camp session since that first one. Galen has worked to give back to the diabetes camp community, not just in North Carolina but also with other camps in the Southeast.
Galen has been a part of the Board of The Diabetes Family Connection since it’s inception and is incredibly proud of the work that has been done to bring Camp Morris to life along with all of the other DFC programs. Galen lives near Durham with his amazing and supportive wife, Kelly, as well as his 3 kids, Tanner, Riley, and Eli.
Contact Galen: galen@thedfc.org
Jakub Mieszczak
Jakub Mieszczak was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 14 years old. The following year he started to attend a summer camp for children with diabetes in North Carolina. It was at camp that Jakub first developed a love of caring for children with diabetes and decided to become a pediatric endocrinologist. Jakub progressed from a camper to counselor, medical staff, camp physician and currently Medical Director of Camp Morris. Dr. Mary Ann Morris greatly influenced Jakub's professional and personal life and he is honored to be one of the founders of Camp Morris.
Professionally, Jakub is a Pediatric Endocrinologist in Charlotte, NC where he has practiced since completing his formal medical training in 2009. He & his wife Marianne enjoy raising their two children and one dog.
Contact Jakub: jakub@thedfc.org
Jason Geer
Jason Geer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, and was fortunate to attend a diabetes camp that summer, which he credits for instilling a positive mental attitude and ability to live a full and exciting life with diabetes. For over twenty years, Jason continued attending the camp and served as a counselor in each of the programs. Jason is honored to serve on the DFC board to enable the DFC mission and diabetes camp experience that provides a safe and rewarding experience to all campers and their families.
Whether it is providing a supportive environment for a newly diagnosed child with diabetes to developing confidence in kids with diabetes as they grow and become future leaders, the DFC programs and camps are a perfect way for Jason to serve and return the gift he received as a kid with diabetes. Jason works for IBM, and lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Elizabeth.
Contact Jason: jason@thedfc.org
Jessi Thaller-Moran
Jessi Thaller-Moran was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 6. She found her way to diabetes camp in the summer of 1997, where she proudly ended her first week of camp by acting as a tour guide for her parents and explaining that PMA, or Positive Mental Attitude, is "a pretty big deal around here." The lesson stuck and Jessi, along with her younger brother and sister, have remained involved as campers and counselors ever since. Chances are good that if you've been to camp, you know a Thaller.
Jessi is a partner with the law firm of Brooks Pierce, where her practice focuses on helping companies with employee management. She lives in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband Paul, two kids, and two furry dog children.
Contact Jessi: jessi@thedfc.org
Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas has been living with T1D for over 28 years and is one of the founding members of The DFC. Not only does Justin serve on our Board of Directors and act as chairman of our Program Committee, but he also serves as the Camp Director for Camp Morris! Justin brings over a decade of experience of directing some of your favorite diabetes camps and now he’s decided to make Camp Morris his d-camp destination! Justin states: “Personally, diabetes camp remains one of the most influential experiences of my life, and has taught me that I'm in control of my life, not diabetes."
Professionally, Justin works throughout the Carolinas as Territory Manager for Tandem Diabetes Care. He’s the father of two beautiful children and lives in Charlotte with his rockstar wife, Julie!
Contact Justin: justin@thedfc.org
Lesley Day
Lesley has been a part of our DFC community since the age of 13. Although diagnosed with T1D at the age of 6, it wasn't until she met Dr. MaryAnn Morris that she attended camp. She's been a part of this community ever since. Lesley started as a camper, transitioned to a counselor and ultimately leading one of our high adventure programs for years. Many of the DFC Leaders today had Lesley as one of their counselors! Today, she serves the DFC on the board of directors. She is passionate about building this organization to serve the needs of her T1D Community and grow the leaders organically to lead this dream past her.
Outside of the DFC, she is the Founder and Wealth Management Advisor of Solas Financial in Raleigh NC. In her spare time, she loves hiking and being with her family. She resides in Cary, NC with her loving husband, Andrew, and twins, Jake and Griffin, and their furry family member, Oreo.
Contact Lesley: lesley@thedfc.org
Patrick Mertes, Founder
Patrick is in constant motion. Since his diagnosis with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 1997, he has refused to let the condition slow him down. He has spent over a decade designing and directing camp and outdoor programs for Outward Bound, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Diabetes Youth Families (DYF). Life with type 1 has offered Patrick the opportunity to expand his T1D community throughout the US, within Central America, and as far south as Santiago, Chile. Patrick has spent the last seven years developing and directing family retreats, residential summer camps, and high-adventure programs for individuals living T1D and their families.
In 2019, Patrick developed the PROJECT 50-IN-50 expedition and became the first person living with T1D to summit the highest peak in each of the 50 US states in just 49 days. Professionally, Patrick works throughout Tennessee as a Territory Business Manager for Dexcom. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, daughter and son.
Contact Patrick: patrick@thedfc.org