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Mission Statement and Vision

Mission

We exist to provide individuals with diabetes and their families a wellness vacation that includes diabetes education, emotional support, and a fun environment. In addition we provide corporate wellness programs for the promotion of healthy lifestyles to prevent and manage diabetes and other chronic health conditions.

Vision

We will be recognized as a leader in providing innovative wellness programs that will take diabetes education out of the classroom and integrate it into non-traditional settings.

Who We Are

	Deborah Greenwood Deborah Greenwood, APRN,BC-ADM, MEd, CDE is a registered nurse and diabetes educator. Deborah, along with Jenna Scarsi, created WAVES (Wellness Adventures: Vacation, Education, Support) to provide diabetes education in non-traditional settings and to focus on the more difficult aspects of diabetes management including lifestyle issues and behavior change. Deborah graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in nursing and from Boston College with a master's degree in curriculum development and instruction. Deborah started her diabetes career at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts working as a Certified Diabetes Educator. Deborah volunteers for the American Diabetes Association Walk for Diabetes and is a board member of Lights, Camera, Cure. She is a member of the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Deborah is certified by the American Nurse Credentialing Center as an Advance Practice Nurse, Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management.
	Jenna Scarsi Jenna Scarsi, RD, LDN, CDE is a dietitian and a certified diabetes educator at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL. She joined Diabetes Services 6 years ago after graduating from Purdue University. Her interest in diabetes began at a young age after she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Jenna decided to create a career path that had a positive impact in the world of diabetes by helping to educate people with diabetes. She has had the opportunity to work with many different individuals and organizations presenting topics such as cholesterol, diabetes management, and meal planning. Jenna is actively involved with the diabetes community through fundraisers such as THE DASH to Cure Diabetes and America’s Walk for Diabetes. She has also created Lights, Camera, Cure, a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In addition, she is a member of the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
	Dr. George Motto A native of Chicago, Il, Dr. Motto attended Chicago’s Loyola University and Stritch School of Medicine graduating in 1966. After post graduate training in Internal Medicine, and Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Illinois-West Side VA Medical Center, Chicago, and the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, (interrupted by two years in the United States Air Force as Chief of Internal Medicine at Reese AFB Hospital, Texas), he entered private practice in the Chicago area July 1, 1974. At that time, he was one of Chicago’s first Board Certified Endocrinology and Metabolism specialists. A pioneer in the private practice of Endocrinology, Dr. Motto has always limited his endeavors exclusively to endocrine and metabolic diseases. As a consequence, he has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of all aspects of these diseases. His special interests are the intensive management of Diabetes (Type 1 & 2), obesity, and lifestyle for the treatment and prevention of disease. He strongly believes that a healthy lifestyle, on a personal and community wide basis, is the only way to deal with overweight and obesity (plus its co-morbidities) which are this nation’s major Public Health problems. Until January 31, 2003, when he resigned to pursue his special interests, Dr. Motto was the senior member of a five person exclusively Endocrine group which he founded in 1980. He is the Medical Director of Weight and Risk Factor Management, an HMRTM Program, Brock Plaza, Alexian Brothers Medical Center (ABMC), Elk Grove Village, IL. and Medical Director, Diabetes Services, Northwest Community Hospital (NWCH), Arlington Heights, IL. A past and current President of the Northern Illinois Area of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Dr. Motto in June 2003, was honored as “Father of the Year” by his Northern Illinois Area ADA. Additionally, in June, 2003, he received a national service award from the American Diabetes Association at its annual meeting in New Orleans. He was Program Chair for the ADA’s inaugural “Chicago Diabetes Expo 2004” held at Navy Pier on April 24, 2004 and also for the ADA’s follow-up Chicago Expo 2005. He was overall Chairman for Chicago ADA Expo 2006 and, again, as overall Chairman, is planning ADA Expo 2007. Very active over his entire career in the education of the public, patients, physicians and other health care professionals, he founded, and is Medical Director of, The Metabolism, Weight, & Lifestyle Institute, Ltd (MWLI), Brock Plaza, ABMC in Elk Grove Village. MWLI’s mission is to promulgate Dr. Motto’s views and to provide him with a mechanism to develop and provide innovative programs in the areas of prevention and intensive treatment of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, heart disease and the impact of lifestyle on health. His private practice is now limited to treating patients with Diabetes and lifestyle diseases. A Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology and Metabolism) at the UIC College of Medicine, Chicago, Dr. Motto and his wife, Kathy, live in Arlington Heights, IL.