Our Team
George Grunberger, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E. received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, had internal medicine training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and Endocrinology/Metabolism training in the Diabetes Branch at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Between 1986 and 2002 he directed the Comprehensive Diabetes Program at both the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University. Early in his career, Dr. Grunberger saw the need for a comprehensive diabetes treatment facility where persons with diabetes could receive specialized care and be provided with addressing the many facets of their disease. The Grunberger Diabetes Institute is the result of Dr. Grunberger’s vision. GDI was established in May 2002. Dr. Grunberger is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and in the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and the American College of Endocrinology. He is currently chairman of the Michigan Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and serves on its National Board of Directors, Click here for more info. He has been elected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Doctors in America® every year between 2001 and 2008. Dr. Grunberger is a staff physician at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital and at St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland Hospital.
Carol Tucker, MSN, CDE, APRN-BC, NP, joined GDI in October 2006. She received her BSN from Eastern Michigan University and her MSN from Madonna University in 2000. Carol became a board certified Nurse Practitioner in 2002. A 34 year career in medicine has provided a wide range of experiences for Carol including intensive care, emergency, and nursing administration. She co-founded the University of Michigan Outpatient Diabetes Education Program and co-authored the workbook used by the program. Both the program and workbook received American Diabetes Association and Michigan state certification. Carol developed and launched an innovative program for the adult with diabetes facing difficult challenges in managing their diabetes. This program, the Diabetes Disease Management Program, became one of the first to receive state and federal accreditations. Carol served as the first nurse practitioner for the University of Michigan Inpatient Intensive Insulin Program. She is a member of the American and Michigan Nurses Associations, the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the Michigan Association of Diabetes Educators. She is a guest lecturer for the University of Michigan, School of Nursing and Clinical Preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students for the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.
Katherine M. Russell, RN, BSN graduated from the WCCC Nursing program in 1990 and earned her BSN degree from University of Phoenix in 2003. Kathi has extensive clinical research experience. After working in the Detroit Medical Center for 14 years, Kathi joined the GDI team in June of 2004. Kathi oversees the clinical management of ACCORD and Viaject trials.
Yulia Abidova, RN earned her Nursing degree from University of Tel Aviv, Israel. Yulia has extensive experience in intensive care, public health, emergency nursing and has also served as the head of the nursing department in a large hospital. Yulia joined the GDI team in April of 2006 and currently serves as a research coordinator for n diabetes studies including the clinical trials for new experimental medications for diabetic neuropathy, blood sugar control, weight loss, and the ACCORD trial.
Lenka Stepan, RN, CDT, Research Coordinator received her nursing degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and has been a member of the GDI team since 2003. In her 5 plus years working at GDI, she has acquired many roles. As a veteran team member, Lenka serves as a Clinical Supervisor in the office. She also runs several ongoing research studies. In addition to these roles, Lenka performs continuous glucose monitoring set-ups and retina photography.
Kim Hall, CMA, CRC, joined GDI in July 2008. Kim coordinates the AIM-HIGH study. She is currently in the Oakland Community College nursing program.
Rebecca Hodge, BS, Research Recruitment Coordinator joined the GDI team in January 2008. She comes to us with a Bachelors Degree in Microbiology and Spanish from the University of Michigan. Since finishing her degree at U of M, she has done field work in clinical research and medical laboratories. Rebecca has a passion for research and a love of working with people.
Janet Albert, RN, BSN, CDE is a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She serves GDI in a consulting role, providing education and support to patients who are transitioning from multiple daily injections to insulin pump therapy, or who are upgrading to newer insulin pumps that better meet their clinical needs. Click here for more info.
Andrea Lasichak, MS, RD, CDE, dietitian was trained at Michigan State University and Thomas Jefferson Medical University in Philadelphia. She received her MS degree at the University of Michigan where she is Director of the Masters Level Dietetics Internship Program. She has co-authored journal articles, cookbooks, workbooks on diabetes as well as the American Diabetes Association's teaching outlines, Life with Diabetes.