Umpierrez Awarded for Outstanding Service
June 19
Endocrinologist Guillermo E. Umpierrez was named 2009 recipient of the "Outstanding Service Award for the Promotion of Endocrine Health of an Underserved Population" by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). The annual award is presented each year to honor exceptional contributions to the care, health, and service provided to an underserved population via leadership, long-term commitment, vision, innovation, and impact/outcomes.
"I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the Grady Diabetes Clinic and the Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program staff," Umpierrez says. "This is great motivation to continue to serve and develop mechanisms that assure quality diabetes care in vulnerable patient populations at high risk for diabetes complications."
The underserved Hispanic population in metro Atlanta is one of these populations. Umpierrez says that Latinos with diabetes have a higher incidence of diabetic complications than other ethnic group. He heads the Emory Latino Diabetes Education Program (ELDEP), the first nationally accredited all Spanish diabetes education program. Under his leadership, ELDEP has raised nearly $500,000 from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Umpierrez received his medical degree from University of Guayaquil, in Ecuador, and completed his internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship at DOM. AACE is a professional medical organization with more than 6,200 members internationally. The organization is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension, and obesity.