Please see below for our list of speakers for the 2024 Diabetes Wellness Expo on Tuesday, November 12 at Delaware Technical Community College – Terry Campus – Dover. This event and program is free to the community.
Keynote Speaker
Steve Goodwin, Ph.D. | University of Delaware
Dr. Steve Goodwin retired from the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Delaware in Spring 2023 after 30 years of teaching. He is a Fellow in the American School Health Association and was recognized for Outstanding Service. He also previously served as the President of the Delaware American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance as well as VP for Health for the Eastern District Association for the Society of Health and Physical Educators. He has presented at national, regional, and state conferences on the topic of happiness.
Session Time: 12:30 PM
Session Location: Del-One Conference Center
Full Speaker Lineup
Steven Blessing | Delaware Division of Public Health
Effective November 3, 2023, Steven Blessing was named Director of the Division of Public Health (DPH) within the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). In this role of directing one of the largest and impactful divisions in state government, Steve oversees over 1,000 staff and manages a $433 million budget in grant and state funding. Previously, Steve had served as Interim DPH Division Director since September 2023. He was named DPH Deputy Director in October 2022. For 30 years, Steve has served DPH in various leadership positions, including Emergency Medical Services Director, Paramedic Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the Division Director. His longest tenure was 12 years at the helm of the Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Section (EMSPS), which he led as Section Chief. As EMSPS Chief, Steve led the development and expansion of DHSS’ response capacity during health and natural disasters.
Session Title: Diabetes in Delaware
Session Time: 12:00 PM
Session Location: Del-One Conference Center
Nicholas R. Conte, Jr., DMD, MBA | DPH Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services
Nicholas R. Conte Jr. is a prosthodontist who has spent 25 years in dentistry working in a variety of roles spanning private practice, academia, industry, and public health. Dr. Conte earned a B.A. from the University of Rochester in New York in Health Economics and completed both his DMD degree and his Prosthodontic Residency Program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, in Newark, New Jersey. In addition, Nick earned an MBA from Wilmington University in Delaware. Nick serves as the Dental Director for the Bureau of Oral health and Dental Services (BOHDS), Delaware Division of Public Health.
Session Title: Beyond Primary Care: The Vital Role of Specialists in Diabetes Management
Session Time: 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM
Session Location: Classroom 716
Roxann EllisWebb, CVRT | Division for the Visually Impaired
Roxann has been working in the field of blindness for over 30 years at the Division for the Visually Impaired. She is certified by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals since 2008. Roxann received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Wilmington University and an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton College in Liberal Studies. Being an Army veteran herself, she serves as the liaison with the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) coordinator at the Veterans Administration. Constantly advocating for services and equipment for veterans who are visually impaired. Roxann has supervised students during their internship from Salus University. She has taken on the role of mentor for students pursing degrees and certification in the vision profession. Roxann teaches Braille, activity of daily living skills and provides low vision services to the blind and visually impaired throughout Delaware.
Session Title: Beyond Primary Care: The Vital Role of Specialists in Diabetes Management
Session Time: 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM
Session Location: Classroom 716
Bethany Hall-Long | Delaware Lt. Governor
From 2002-2017, Bethany served as a member of Delaware’s legislature, first as a Representative and then as a Senator. She served as the chair of the Health and Social Services committee where her efforts were aimed at ensuring a stronger, healthier Delaware by combating addiction, focusing on a stronger mental health system, fighting cancer, and health inequities in our state. She also served as a member of the capital budget Bond Committee where Bethany focused on building Delaware’s infrastructure, modernizing our schools, repairing our highways, and protecting our environment and open space. Descended from Colonel David Hall, a judge, lawyer and 15th Governor of Delaware (1802), serving the community is in her blood. Her great-grandfather, David C. Hall, was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives (1916-1920). Bethany has always been, and will continue to be a strong voice for all of Delaware.
Session Title: Diabetes in Delaware (video remarks)
Session Time: 12:00 PM
Session Location: Del-One Conference Center
Rakesh Jaitly, MD | Bayhealth Neurology
Dr. Rakesh Jaitly is a seasoned neurologist who joined Bayhealth Neurology in 2024, bringing decades of experience in neurophysiology and neurological care. Before his current role, Dr. Jaitly contributed his expertise at Georgetown University’s Department of Neurology in Washington, DC, and served as the Director of Neurology and Stroke Services at Medstar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, MD. A graduate of Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College in Meerut, India, Dr. Jaitly completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1977. Recognized for his deep commitment to advancing neurological science, Dr. Jaitly has been published in numerous medical journals and remains dedicated to improving patient outcomes through research and innovative care.
Session Title: Beyond Primary Care: The Vital Role of Specialists in Diabetes Management
Session Time: 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM
Session Location: Classroom 716
Lovell Kosh | 3&D Sports Performance
Lovell Kosh is the co-owner of the award-winning 3&D Sports Performance which is located in Wilmington, De. Lovell is also a TEDx Speaker, Delaware Business Times 40 under 40, and winner of the 2024 Lt. Governor Health Challenge.
He’s also one of the founding members and the Health and Wellness chair of the 100 Black Men of Delaware. He’s the strength & conditioning coach with a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and a concentration in Injury prevention. Lovell is an expert in injury prevention with nearly 2 decades of coaching experience working with athletes from Europe, the NBA, the NFL, and the MLB resulting in ZERO ACL injuries. Lovell currently resides in Wilmington, DE with his wife and two greyhounds who were former racing dogs.
Session Title: Fighting The Silent Killer: How To Be Fit And Strong With Diabetes
Session Time: 1:30 PM
Session Location: Classroom 714
Alyson Lang | Tobacco Prevention & Control Program
Alyson Lang has been a Health Educator for the past 30 years. She has facilitated numerous seminars, conferences, and workshops locally and nationally to empower and motivate youth and adults to adopt healthier lifestyles. More importantly, she has conducted Train-the Trainer courses with social service and medical providers, community leaders, and educators in the field of HIV/STD prevention, HIV Counseling & Testing, plus Alcohol, and other Substance Use/Abuse. She is a Master Trainer with the State’s Self-Management Programs for Diabetes, Chronic Disease and Chronic Pain.
Ms. Lang is also the Trainer-Educator Specialist III assigned to work with the Tobacco Prevention & Control Program (TPCP) at the Division of Public Health. Since January 2018, Ms. Lang has been “Edu-Taining” (Educating & Entertaining) youth and adults throughout the State about the consequences of smoking, vaping, nicotine pouches, secondhand smoke and vape aerosol. During programs and community outreach, she also promotes the Quitline cessation program. As a TPCP Trainer-Educator, Ms. Lang is tasked with helping achieve the following goals: 1) Prevent the Initiation; Use of Tobacco Products; 2) Increase Quitting; Quitting Attempts; 3) Eliminate Exposure to Secondhand Smoke; Vapors; and 4) Advance health equity by identifying; eliminating inequities and disparities; 5) Strengthen; build partnerships at all levels of tobacco prevention. Ms. Lang’s personal goal is to help Delaware become a Nicotine-free State.
Session Title: Nicotine and Diabetes: What You Need to Know
Session Time: 1:30 PM
Session Location: Classroom 716
Nina Pletcher, MEd, RDN, DCES | Bayhealth Medical Group
Nina Pletcher is a registered dietitian for more than 50 years and has developed her passion for diabetes education as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist for more than 30 of those years concurrently. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Penn State University. She is currently employed at Bayhealth Medical Group in Population Health and specializes in caring for and educating both people with diabetes and the health care team with whom she works.
Nina is a mother of two and grandmother of two beautiful granddaughters.
Session Title: Beyond Primary Care: The Vital Role of Specialists in Diabetes Management
Session Time: 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM
Session Location: Classroom 716
Amber B. Woodland, Esq. | Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC
With strong ties to Sussex County, Amber is a graduate of Seaford Senior High School. She completed her studies at Flagler College and Regent University School of Law, initially believing that her college years would be the beginning of her life outside of Delaware. It took no time for Amber to realize her strong connections to the Eastern Shore and return home. Today, Amber is a member of the bar of the State of Delaware and holds accreditation by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Amber’s ambition during college led her to begin working at Procino Wells, LLC in the summer of 2006, continuing to work part time throughout law school and eventually joining the firm as an associate attorney in 2010. Amber’s chemistry with her now business partner, Michele, was evident from the beginning and it is common to hear both attorneys describe themselves as kindred spirits.Their core values clearly complement one another; so much so that they formed Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC in 2014. Amber is proud to be a member of Delaware Today’s Women in Business 2014, to be recognized as the 2016 Best Lawyer in Southern Delaware by Metropolitan Magazine and acknowledged by Delaware Today as a 2019 and 2021 Top Lawyer.
Session Title:Advance Care Planning – How Legal Planning Can Improve My Health
Session Time: 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM
Session Location: Classroom 714