Advisory Board Bios

Mary is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator and owner, president of The Austin Group, LLC, a communications company primarily specializing in diabetes.

Mary received her bachelor’s degree in biology and dietetics from Michigan State University and her master’s degree in management from Central Michigan University. Her clinical background includes eating disorders counseling, renal and diabetes disease management. She has been on the faculty of the University of Michigan-Flint Campus and Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio, as an instructor in nutrition for the undergraduate nursing and dietetic technician students. Currently she counsels patients at an ADA Recognized Program, based in an endocrinology practice and also serves as the nutritionist for the NIH-funded ACCORD research trial at Henry Ford Hospital.

Mary has held leadership positions in numerous diabetes-related professional organizations, both on the local and national level. She has served as an executive board member of her local American Diabetes Association (ADA) and nationally on the ADA’s Publications Policy Committee. Mary is a past Chair of the 5600 member, Diabetes Care and Education (DCE) dietetic practice group of the American Dietetic Association. In 1999, Mary received the Distinguished Service Award from the DCE.

While an Executive Committee member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), Mary served on numerous key committees. Viewed as a thought leader, Mary chaired the development of the 2000-2003 Strategic Plan for AADE. Currently Mary is the President for the American Association of Diabetes Educators.