William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES

Dr. Polonsky is President and Co-Founder of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute, the world’s first organization wholly dedicated to studying and addressing the unmet psychological needs of people with diabetes. He is a distinguished figure in our community who radiates warmth and friendliness! Dr. Polonsky is also Associate Clinical Professor in Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yale University, he has made significant contributions to the field. He has served as Senior Psychologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, faculty member at Harvard Medical School and Chairman of the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators. A licensed clinical psychologist, certified diabetes care and educational specialist, and highly-cited research scientist with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications in the field of behavioral diabetes, his research has focused on quality of life in diabetes, diabetes-related distress and depression, hypoglycemic fear, adherence and persistence to cardiometabolic medications, glucose monitoring behavior and attitudes in people living with diabetes, physician and patient attitudes towards insulin and oral medications, group-based behavior change programs, the influence of diabetes technology on quality of life, and emotional and behavioral responses to the diagnosis of diabetes. He received the American Diabetes Association’s 2020 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award and the American Diabetes Association’s 2014 Richard R. Rubin Award for distinguished contributions to behavioral medicine and psychology. His passion for helping diabetics has made him a hero in our community!