All our nurses and registered dieticians are certified diabetes educators (CDE) and provide information about diabetes, treatment, nutrition and complications. The educators create individualized treatment plans to best meet your needs and lifestyle. They are skilled in education and motivation techniques and translate the science of nutrition and medicine into practice. They teach new behavior to promote fitness, improve health and create a nutrition plan tailored to your needs and lifestyle. They also coordinate with your referring physician for seamless care.
Melanie DiMercurio, RN, BSN, clinical manager
Melanie received her undergraduate degree from St. Louis University in 1983 and is a certified registered nurse. She has worked as a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood Missouri and was head nurse of the SNF unit for nine years.
Melanie started working with Washington University in 2000 and was Head Nurse at the Medicine Multispecialty for almost four years. Her current position is Clinical Manager for the Diabetes Center.
Gaye Knutsen, MSN, RN, CDE, nurse practitioner
Gaye received her nursing degree from the Barnes School of Nursing which she followed with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University. In 1988, she received her Masters in Nursing from St. Louis University.
She has more than 30 years of nursing experience and is a Certified Medical-Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist, a Certified Diabetes Educator and a Certified Insulin Pump Trainer. She currently is an Advanced Practice Nurse and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) program coordinator for the Diabetes Center.
Carol Field, RD, LD, CDE
Carol attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed a coordinated undergraduate program in 1981. She has been an employee of Barnes-Jewish Hospital for 25 years, working in various capacities including, medicine, surgery, oncology, nutrition support and transplant.
Since becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator ten years ago, she has focused on working with pregnant women with diabetes. She currently conducts classes and sees clients one-on-one in the Diabetes Center.
Margaret Foy Shields, MEd, RD, LD, CDE
Margaret received her undergraduate degree from Dominican University in 1979, interned at Milwaukee County Institutions in 1980-1981 and completed her Masters of Education at University of Missouri St. Louis in 1986. She has completed a certificate program in Adult Weight Management through the American Dietetic Association and is a Certified Diabetes Educator.
Margaret has worked at Barnes-Jewish Hospital since 1981 in varied capacities. She currently conducts classes and sees clients one-on-one in the Diabetes Center.
Barb Klinger, BSN, RN, CDE
Barb received her nursing diploma from the Jewish Hospital College of Nursing in 1983 which she followed with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barnes-Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health in 2006.
She has more than 20 years of nursing experience and is a Certified Diabetes Educator. She now focuses on teaching diabetes patients about self-management of their disease. She currently conducts classes and sees clients one-on-one in the Diabetes Center.
Debbie Manchester, RN, MSN, CDE
Debra received her nursing diploma from the Barnes School of Nursing which she followed with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University. In 2004, she received her Masters in Holistic Nursing from the Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health.
She has more than 30 years of nursing experience and is a Certified Diabetes Educator. She now focuses on teaching diabetic patients about self-management of their disease. She currently conducts classes and sees clients one-on-one in the Diabetes Center.
Diane O'Reilly, BC-ANP, RN, CDE
Diane received her nursing degree from the Barnes School of Nursing which she followed with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University. In 2000, she received her Masters in Nursing from the University of Missouri St. Louis.
She has more than 30 years of nursing experience and is a certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, a Certified Diabetes Educator and a Certified Insulin Pump Trainer. She also provides education in diabetes care to patients with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Cheryl Voelker, MPH, RD, LD, CDE
Cheryl received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1988 and interned at the University of Iowa. She obtained a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan in 1992.
Cheryl has been a Certified Diabetes Educator for more than 10 years and has spent her entire career working with diabetes. At the Diabetes Center, she is currently responsible for patient education and one-on-one patient care.
Mary Doerr, BSN, RN, CFN
Mary received her nursing degree from St. Louis Community College which she followed with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Webster University. She is a Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN) by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board.
With more than 25 years of nursing experience, Mary specializes in patient education and the identification, treatment and prevention of foot and lower leg problems caused by diabetes.