#BDC40

40 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BARBARA DAVIS CENTER

In May 2020, we marked the 40th anniversary of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, albeit in a more muted fashion than we would have hoped. We took the necessary safe steps in light of COVID-19 to cancel any kind of celebration to mark the occasion, but the story of this amazing medical center is one that still needs to be recognized.

In 1978, Marvin and Barbara Davis founded both the Children’s Diabetes Foundation (CDF) and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes (BDC) after their daughter, Dana, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Living in Denver at the time, they were frequently traveling to Boston for Dana’s care and knew there had to be a better solution closer to home.

The BDC would provide state-of-the-art care to type 1 patients and devote research to finding a cure for the chronic auto-immune disease. Meanwhile, CDF would function as the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Center, providing the necessary resources and volunteers to keep the BDC open and operational.

Marvin and Barbara generously donated a portion of their personal wealth for the building in 1978. Construction on the original Barbara Davis Center was completed in 1980 at the Ninth Avenue campus on Colorado Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. The building was expanded in 1983, 1986, and again in 1994 as more and more space was needed to treat patients and continue research.

In May 2005, the BDC relocated to its current location. Housed in a dedicated building on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, the Center is an independent institute within the University of Colorado School of Medicine. BDC clinical faculty members teach medical, physician assistant, nursing, and dental students on campus. Residents and endocrinology fellows receive critical training at the leading edge of diabetes clinical care and research.

The BDC proudly provides state-of-the-art diabetes care to more than 7,500 children and adults with diabetes, as well as provides inpatient care to patients with any type of diabetes who are seen at the nearby Children’s Hospital Colorado. Of those thousands of patients, approximately 40% are uninsured or underinsured, meaning they may not have the ability to pay for their care or treatment. Thanks to support programs of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, no one is turned away for care and families do not have to choose between the insulin their child needs and a roof over their head.

Marvin and Barbara had a dream more than 40 years ago, that the best possible diabetes care would be available to anyone and everyone who might need it. Not only would their daughter Dana receive the top-notch care and attention every parent wants for their child, but any patient who walks through the BDC’s doors would be welcomed just the same, as part of the Davis family.

I am very proud of the Barbara Davis Center and the work we have accomplished in the last 40 years. I get very sentimental about it because this hospital was built out of love for a child, my daughter Dana, so that she and the rest of the world might have access to the best diabetes care available from the very best doctors.

I cherish the feeling of knowing we can provide such a high level of care and supply life-saving insulin to our patients, regardless of their ability to pay for it. More than a third of our patients would not be able to afford treatment elsewhere if not for the Barbara Davis Center and the support of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.

We would not be here today without you, our very special patients. When the FDA passed approval of the artificial pancreas, it was based on data and research from BDC patients. Our facility was chosen because so many of you were willing to participate in the kind of research that moves the diabetes world ever forward.

This facility is staffed by some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. We love our BDC patient care teams, researchers, administrators, and support staff, as I know you do too. I am so proud that we have these talented people on our team, caring deeply and working tirelessly to advance the treatment of type 1 diabetes. I can remember fondly that at one point we did so many transplants, and did them so fabulously, that our transplant doctor was made the head of transplants at the Mayo Clinic, a world-famous medical institute. This is the high level of skill and ability that our Center attracts.

These last 40 years have shown me what great work has been done here. This anniversary is such a great accomplishment and the success of this Center means so much to me. The Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes and the Children’s Diabetes Foundation touch so many lives and I am so happy to be a part of all the victories that could have been tragedies.

As I said in the beginning, this special place was built out of love for my daughter, Dana Davis. Nothing means more to you than your own children and Dana, now Executive Director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, has been an absolute inspiration. I thank her for her years of service and dedication to this fight, one that she never asked to be a part of.

Thank you to all the doctors for the great work they have done over the last four decades and the great strides they have made in our field. My special thanks to all of you, for being so supportive and so caring. I want you to know how much you mean to the success of these organizations. One day we will find a cure for this terrible disease and I want you to know it will be YOU who made all the difference in so many lives.

With love and appreciation,