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Diabetes Then and Now and Leaping into the Future (Or “Why I Joined Medtronic”)
Francine Kaufman is one of the most recognized individuals in the field of diabetes care. She’s a world-renown pediatric endocrinologist at USC, a former ADA president, the author of Diabesity. Late last year, she made the leap to industry, joining Medtronic to become “a key architect of the company’s global diabetes strategy.” Today we’re privileged to hear her thoughts on then, now, and why:
A Guest Post by Dr. Francine Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer, Medtronic Diabetes
For the last 30 years as a pediatric endocrinologist in Los Angeles, California, I have had to tell countless parents that their child has diabetes. As the words emerge from my mouth, each parent stares at me in disbelief and then despair that such a chronic disease could affect their child. As my team of diabetes health care providers and I start what is often life saving treatment, we now know with confidence that with appropriate care, access to the most advanced therapies, education, and support the children we treat can not only survive but thrive and live productive, meaningful, and healthy lives.
Many don’t realize what a technology explosion diabetes care has experienced since I started in medicine three decades ago. When I began my practice, we could only measure sugar in urine, we had only animal insulin, we hadn’t definitively proven that glucose control even mattered, and my patients had little control over their own destinies. But things are different – and better — now. My patients leave my office with a glucose meter that gives a blood sugar result in seconds. Often within weeks, they get on an insulin pump, and for many the pump comes with a continuous glucose monitor. My patients upload their own devices, manage the data via the Internet, and for the most part they can now do everything they want to in life — they play sports, travel to distant places, explore the sea and the mountains, go to school in exotic countries, get married, have children, and live their dreams.
After 30 years in academic medicine at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, I decided to change jobs and go to work at Medtronic. I did this for one reason — the next big step in technology is at hand, the closed-loop sensor-augmented insulin pump, often called the artificial pancreas. I wanted to be on the team that would develop this “cure” for diabetes — for the thousands of children I have cared for over three decades, and for the thousands more I have met along the way. After searching high and low, it was obvious to me that Medtronic had the greatest chance of developing the closed-loop system — because they already have all the parts — the insulin pump, the sensor and algorithms. And when Medtronic told me they wanted a Chief Medical Officer, and that they wanted me to have that role — and when they agreed that I could still keep my clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, I leapt to industry.
I am truly excited about this next chapter in diabetes. I am thrilled to be part of a group that is innovating and driven to improve the lives of my patients — and people everywhere touched by diabetes. We will get there, I tell everyone at Medtronic Diabetes and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. And as soon as we do, I think I will retire a happy woman.
Thank you, Fran. We’re happy to have you on the case!
Explore posts in the same categories: Diabetes Product Parade, Personal Stories
Francine
Posted by: Doug | August 10th, 2009 at 7:47 amSounds like an exciting job, in an exciting time
How long do you think it will take the FDA to approve the closed loop system once its available elsewhere ? Since FDA hasnt approved “Low Glucose Suspend” in US but its available elsewhere makes me wonder how long it will take to get approval for riskier automated changes like increasing basal.
Wont we need significantly more reliable more accurate sensors before these next steps will be possible ?
Finally Francine I hope that you can have an impact on what are in my opinion questionable sales tactics that Medtronic Pump sales people have used for years. Strong arming vulnerable recently diagnosed patients or their parents is inappropriate in my opinion, and the company that owns the majority of the market share shouldnt have to result to those tactics.
Thanks
Doug
The technology that exsists is so much better than when I was diagnosed in 1985. I am looking forward to the day there is a closed loop system.
Posted by: Cara | August 10th, 2009 at 8:17 amWhile I’m looking forward to a viable closed loop system, I’ll reserve judgment until I see the usability and user experience of the thing.
For example it will require at least two implants: an insulin cannula; and a sensor. It may also need a glucagon cannula for dealing with lows.
If it’s to work well we’ll need to be able to get the data off the device easily. So please consider open data standards and easy access to whatever downloaded data there is.
Posted by: Bernard Farrell | August 10th, 2009 at 8:31 amThanks for your piece, Doctor. While the Medtronic approach is all well and good, it’s not a “cure”, just a better mousetrap. Sure, it’s a slicker, more accurate and more advanced mousetrap than the urine test kit I remember when I was a kid, but there will be no cure unless type 1 diabetes can be stopped, reversed and/or prevented.
Posted by: Kathy | August 10th, 2009 at 11:02 amThank you for all you have done and continue to do for families with children with diabetes. I hope you will exert influence on the industry to be sure that when people purchase the life sustaining technology you refer to above, you also make sure Medtronic provides each patient with a backup system so they do not have to revert to relying on injection therapy and fingerstick blood glucose monitoring as they will no longer have the skills to do so effectively, even for the supposed 24 hours that’s promised for replacement of a problem system. Years ago Disetronic always provided a backup pump so no patient of theirs ever had to be without a pump once the patient started on CSII. That was an important consideration for our family when we opted for our son’s first pump.
Posted by: Ellen | August 10th, 2009 at 11:40 amI found this blog that mentions how we can use outdated technology to help raise funds for Canadian Diabetes research
http://www.thetelecomblog.com/2009/08/10/what-can-you-do-with-an-ancient-cell-phone/
good luck and great work – it’s amazing how far we’ve already come in the learning to mitigate diabetes. the future will hold the cure!
Posted by: brandscaping | August 10th, 2009 at 4:55 pmIts biggest maker of heart-rhythm devices, won $57 million in a patent-infringement trial against AGA Medical over medical devices that treat holes caused by congenital heart defects.
Posted by: Chan | August 12th, 2009 at 3:16 amThat was an important consideration for our family when we opted for our son’s first pump.
Posted by: Acai Berries | August 14th, 2009 at 8:49 amHello Francine;
Congratulations on your new job! I hear there is a mint to be made within the Biomedical Engineering industy
Concerns:
1) the suggestion, by a physician, situated in an industry leading company, of your proportion, that a medical device can be considered a “cure” almost caused me a vitreous hemmorhage. The cure will be when Diabetes is stopped because a way has been found to restore the pancreas back to it’s former state of functioning in current Diabetics and preventing the disease in future Diabetics – in other words, the cure will be when Diabetes is extinct
2) how many separate prescriptions will a Diabetic need to order to maintin this so called “cure”?
3) Cost: for the device itself, supplies
4) What if the device suddenly fails three months before the warranty is up? Will I have to get the Head Pharmacist and my Nurse Clinician to contact Medtronic on my behalf because the customer service rep told me me my warranty is up? How does being stipped my right to have my pump, by a customer service rep (who is not a physician, nurse or PA) empower me to manage my Diabetes? I don’t stop having Diabetes because the my pump is broken and a customer service rep deems my warranty up.
Suggestions
1) Lower commission rates of pharmeceutical reps and executives and pass some savings onto Diabetics – our disease funds your lives while we live with this disease every day, until we die. Our bodies pay and so do our pocketbooks
2) Make pumps and supplies available to ALL Diabetics who need them, not just those able to afford them. If pumping insulin is the best ,then lets make this the protocol for all Diabetics, not just some. Blood Glucose Monitors were expensive when first introduced – now they’re free, this is the type of real innovation Medtronic should be looking towards in their insulin pumping endeavors – how can you reach all the Diabetics.l
Thanks
Posted by: rae | August 21st, 2009 at 12:35 pmRae
I agree with Bernard’s post with respect to Open Data Standards. Making the data available to users and professionals will speed innovations in monitoring and control.
Posted by: Stuart | September 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 amTechnology has come along way but as with most there is always the underlying commercialization from drug companies who have no motivation to create a cure as it is always said it is more lucrative to treat the symptoms than it is to cure the disease.
Posted by: diabetes management | September 15th, 2009 at 1:20 pm