Health Is the Key

In our November episode, we were joined by renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, who offered some simple ideas to give your holiday meals a healthy twist. In this month’s Key Note, Chef Marcus shares a simple recipe for injera, a super-nutritious bread that makes a great go-with for any meal. Bonus: For a chance to win Chef Marcus’s book The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food – complete with injera recipe – just share your favorite tip for making the holidays healthier at instagram.com/1199SEIUBenefitFunds or facebook.com/1199SEIUBenefitFunds. But hurry: Our book giveaway ends Saturday, November 30. The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Find a greenmarket near you by visiting grownyc.org/greenmarket/ourmarkets.
Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of cooking demos and healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
To order one of Chef Marcus’s books, visit marcussamuelsson.com/shop.
Guest BioMarcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and activist, is the esteemed chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster in Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; and several international locations, including the Bahamas, Canada and Ethiopia. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner.In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.”  He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson served as host and producer of the Seat at the Table audio series on Audible and co-host of the This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on Acast. He is the author of multiple books, including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir, as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.To complement his professional commitments, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. An active public speaker, Marcus hosted his first TED Talk at the world-famous Apollo Theater in 2012. He was invited back in 2024, when he was joined in conversation by renowned curator Thelma Golden to discuss the intersection of food, culture and community. He participates in lectures globally, most recently with the Gates Foundation and The New York Times during Climate Week NYC 2024.Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and X at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks

Ready or not, the holidays are coming – along with the challenge of eating healthfully. To help us navigate the season’s menus, we are joined this month by a special guest – Marcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and activist. Chef Marcus shares cherished holiday memories, simple cooking techniques to make your holiday meals healthier and some not-so-common – and inexpensive – ingredients to boost the nutrition in your favorite recipes. Happy cooking!The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on building healthy meals, managing stress and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Find a greenmarket near you by visiting grownyc.org/greenmarket/ourmarkets.
Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of cooking demos and healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
To order one of Chef Marcus’s cookbooks, visit marcussamuelsson.com/shop.
Guest BioMarcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and activist, is the esteemed chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster in Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; and several international locations, including the Bahamas, Canada and Ethiopia. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner.In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.”  He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson served as host and producer of the Seat at the Table audio series on Audible and co-host of the This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on Acast. He is the author of multiple books, including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir, as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.To complement his professional commitments, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. An active public speaker, Marcus hosted his first TED Talk at the world-famous Apollo Theater in 2012. He was invited back in 2024, when he was joined in conversation by renowned curator Thelma Golden to discuss the intersection of food, culture and community. He participates in lectures globally, most recently with the Gates Foundation and The New York Times during Climate Week NYC 2024.Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and X at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks

In our October episode, we talked to 1199ers Sal Oliveri and Joanne Rosso about how they support each other on their health journeys. In this month’s Key Note, Joanne shares how a co-worker’s tough-love advice helped her get through a rough patch. Bonus: You’ll also hear from the Benefit Funds’ own dedicated WeightWatchers coach Angelica McQuade, who shares an inspirational message and explains why that peer-to-peer support is so important.The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members, like Sal and Joanne, through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest Bios
Sal Oliveri is a radiology imaging associate at Long Island Community Hospital, where he works with Joanne Rosso, a unit secretary in the emergency department. Friends for nearly 10 years, both Sal and Joanne began their health journeys on WeightWatchers to lose weight, feel better in mind and spirit, and ensure that they’re around for a long time to enjoy all of life’s pleasures with their families and friends. View their Healthy Living story in our Members' Voices  series.Angelica McQuade is a National Virtual Coach at Weight Watchers International, as well as a fitness trainer certified through several organizations, including Les Mills International and AFFA-Athletics and Fitness Association of America™. Angelica’s Instagram presence (angelica_real.life.wellness)  captures her philosophy with respect to weight health: Actions that lead to feelings of deprivation, guilt or worthlessness have no place in a sustainable healthy lifestyle.

This month, 1199 members Sal Oliveri and Joanne Rosso from Long Island Community Hospital join us to share their WeightWatchers secret to success. Spoiler alert: It’s each other! For nearly two years, Sal and Joanne have supported one another throughout their weight-loss journeys on WeightWatchers – and they show no signs of stopping. Whether they’re celebrating successes or navigating challenges, these two friends and co-workers truly demonstrate the power of “strength in members.”
The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members, like Sal and Joanne, through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube Channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioSal Oliveri is a radiology imaging associate at Long Island Community Hospital, where he works with Joanne Rosso, a unit secretary in the emergency department. Friends for nearly 10 years, both Sal and Joanne began their health journeys on WeightWatchers to lose weight, feel better in mind and spirit, and ensure that they’re around for a long time to enjoy all of life’s pleasures with their families and friends. View their Healthy Living story in our Members' Voices  series.

In our September episode, Dr. Chiti Parikh joined us to explore how setting a health intention and focusing on four basics of well-being – nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management – can support you on your health journey. In this month’s Key Note episode, Dr. Parikh shares a brief overview of her book, Intentional Health, and the inspiration behind it.The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
For more information about the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program, visit www.nyp.org/integrative-health-program
To find Dr. Parikh’s book, visit www.intentionalhealth.io.
Guest Bio
Chiti Parikh, MD, is the Executive Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, with additional training in Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture and Ayurveda. 
 
To provide the highest level of compassionate and individualized care, Dr. Parikh combines cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern traditions into a truly holistic approach. She has co-founded the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program, the leading integrative center in the country, which offers modalities such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, nutrition and psychotherapy.Dr. Parikh’s focus on prevention helps her address not just the physical but also psychological, social and environmental influences on health and healing. She recently published her first book, Intentional Health. Dr. Parikh has been featured on NBC News and Vice news, and in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Women’s Health and The Wall Street Journal.

When Dr. Chiti Parikh meets a new patient, the first question she asks is “What is your health intention?” In the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program at NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Parikh treats each patient as a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms – a philosophy the Benefit Funds have long embraced. In this episode, Dr. Parikh explains how setting a health intention and focusing on four basics of well-being – nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management – can support you on your health journey.The Takeaway
Start your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources; www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers at a discounted rate of just $8 a month; $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/news/virta.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members’ Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to view webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: youtube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
For more information about the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program, visit www.nyp.org/integrative-health-program
To find Dr. Parikh’s book, visit www.intentionalhealth.io.
Guest BioChiti Parikh, MD, is the Executive Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine, with additional training in Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture and Ayurveda. To provide the highest level of compassionate and individualized care, Dr. Parikh combines cutting-edge Western medicine with Eastern traditions into a truly holistic approach. She has co-founded the Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program, the leading integrative center in the country, which offers modalities such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, nutrition and psychotherapy.Dr. Parikh’s focus on prevention helps her address not just the physical but also psychological, social and environmental influences on health and healing. She recently published her first book, Intentional Health. Dr. Parikh has been featured on NBC News and Vice news, and in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Women’s Health and The Wall Street Journal.

In our August episode, Dr. Harly Greenberg explained the mysteries behind sleep – and the secrets to getting a good night’s rest, one of which is meditation. In our Key Note episode, we share a soothing sleep meditation, led by the Benefit Funds’ own Lupe Flores, an LMSW in the Wellness Member Assistance Program, to help you wind down and ease into a gentle sleep. Sweet dreams!The Takeaway
Practice these good-sleep habits: www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/special/get-good-night-sleep.pdf
If you consistently have trouble sleeping, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioHarly Greenberg, MD, FCCP, FASM Dr. Greenberg is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Associate Director of the Northwell Lung Institute, Medical Director of the Northwell Sleep Disorders Center and  Professor of Medicine Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.
Dr. Greenberg is a recognized expert in sleep medicine and has helped advance the field of sleep medicine as an investigator or co-investigator in multiple clinical research trials. His research has contributed to our understanding of the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Greenberg was a co-investigator in a major international clinical trial that established the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure therapy as an important treatment for patients with milder forms of obstructive sleep apnea. His work has contributed to the development of new therapies for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Sleep: It’s something we all crave but can’t seem to get enough of. Regular, restful sleep boosts brain health and mood and protects against a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, obesity and dementia. But a recent survey found that most of us don’t get the recommended seven hours a night. In this episode, Dr. Harly Greenberg explains the mysteries behind sleep – and the secret to getting a good night’s rest. Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Dr. Greenberg explains all things sleep: why we need it, what messes with it and what we can do to improve it.The Takeaway:
Practice these good-sleep habits: www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/special/get-good-night-sleep.pdf
If you consistently have trouble sleeping, make an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider. 
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving.
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww.
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists.
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents.
Guest BioHarly Greenberg, MD, FCCP, FASM Dr. Greenberg is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Associate Director of the Northwell Lung Institute, Medical Director of the Northwell Sleep Disorders Center and  Professor of Medicine Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.
Dr. Greenberg is a recognized expert in sleep medicine and has helped advance the field of sleep medicine as an investigator or co-investigator in multiple clinical research trials. His research has contributed to our understanding of the cardiovascular consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Greenberg was a co-investigator in a major international clinical trial that established the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure therapy as an important treatment for patients with milder forms of obstructive sleep apnea. His work has contributed to the development of new therapies for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Healthcare leaders have called type 2 diabetes “a national health crisis,” but our guest this month has good news to share. Jessica Vatel, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, is excited by the latest approaches to treating diabetes, including education, coaching and personal empowerment. Working with people living with the condition to develop healthy habits and problem-solving skills, Jessica discusses how putting the power in patients’ hands—along with medical advances—is helping more people manage their diabetes.
The Takeaway: 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers:  www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. 
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with diabetes and get your primary care from a physician at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, learn more about their Diabetes Care Program by calling (718) 250-6433. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.virtahealth.com/join/1199. 
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
View Jessica in action, counseling Home Health Aide Lavern King: https://youtu.be/19slcdFvH7w. 
Guest Bio: 
Jessica Vatel is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she has been employed as an 1199SEIU member since 2015. Jessica specializes in all aspects of support for people living with diabetes, including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy), medications, weight management, monitoring/preventive screenings, and developing healthy coping skills/problem solving skills to better manage and live with diabetes. Jessica feels passionate about empowering patients to manage their health and increase their knowledge surrounding disease management to ultimately improve their quality of life. 

Healthcare leaders have called type 2 diabetes “a national health crisis,” but our guest this month has good news to share. Jessica Vatel, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, is excited by the latest approaches to treating diabetes, including education, coaching and personal empowerment. Working with people living with the condition to develop healthy habits and problem-solving skills, Jessica discusses how putting the power in patients’ hands—along with medical advances—is helping more people manage their diabetes.
The Takeaway 
Get started on your health journey by making an appointment with your primary care physician. Don’t have one? Find one at our Provider Directory: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/find-a-provider.   
Visit the Healthy Living Resource Center for wellness tips, information and resources: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving. 
Get to know your numbers:  www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyhearts. 
Join WeightWatchers® at a discounted rate of just $8 a month or $0 if you are living with diabetes or prediabetes: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/ww. 
If you are living with diabetes and get your primary care from a physician at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, learn more about their Diabetes Care Program by calling (718) 250-6433. 
If you are living with type 2 diabetes, find out more about our partner Virta’s diabetes reversal program: www.virtahealth.com/join/1199. 
Get inspired by fellow members through our Members' Voices series: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/healthyliving/membervoices.  
Stop by our Benefits Channel to join webinars on managing stress, building healthy meals and more: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/videos. 
Visit our YouTube channel to view a wide collection of healthy living videos: www.YouTube.com/@1199SEIUBenefitFunds/playlists. 
Sample our wellness classes to exercise body and mind: www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/wellnessevents. 
View Jessica in action, counseling Home Health Aide Lavern King:  www.1199seiubenefits.org/jessica-vatel-and-lavern-king.
Guest Bio
Jessica Vatel is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she has been employed as an 1199SEIU member since 2015. Jessica specializes in all aspects of support for people living with diabetes, including nutrition and lifestyle counseling, diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy), medications, weight management, monitoring/preventive screenings, and developing healthy coping skills/problem solving skills to better manage and live with diabetes. Jessica feels passionate about empowering patients to manage their health and increase their knowledge surrounding disease management to ultimately improve their quality of life.