Desmond Schatz, MD is Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Director of the Diabetes Institute and Director of the Clinical Research Center within the CTSI at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He served as Interim Chair of Pediatrics from 2019-2022 and as President of Science and Medicine of the American Diabetes Association in 2016. Dr. Schatz has been involved in Type 1 diabetes research since the mid 1980’s and has published over 450 manuscripts, the majority related to the prediction, natural history, genetics, immunopathogenesis and prevention of the disease, as well as the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) on several NIH awards and has had continuous funding since the mid 80s. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the Mary Tyler Moore and S Robert Levine JDRF Excellence in Clinical Research Award, the 2009 Cure Award from the American Diabetes Association, the 2010 Public Policy Leadership Award, the prestigious Banting Medal for service from the American Diabetes Association, the ISPAD Prize for achievement (the highest honor of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes) both in 2016 and, in 2021, the distinguished George Eisenbarth Award from the JDRF for outstanding research advances toward the prevention of Type 1 diabetes. In 2022 he was elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL).