Felicia Hill-Briggs facts for kids

Felicia Hill-Briggs was an amazing American scientist who studied how people behave and interact, especially when it came to their health. She was a leader in understanding and helping people manage long-term health conditions like type 1 diabetes. Her work helped many people live healthier lives.

Her Early Life and Learning

Felicia Hill-Briggs was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was nine years old. This personal experience likely shaped her interest in health.

Her Education Journey

She went to American University and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. After that, she continued her studies at Pennsylvania State University. There, she earned her doctoral degree (a very high level of education) in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology. This means she became an expert in how our minds affect our health and how to help people with health problems.

Advanced Training

After her doctoral degree, Dr. Hill-Briggs completed special training called an internship at New York University Medical Center. She then did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center. These extra years of training made her even more skilled in helping older adults with their health and brain function.

Her Amazing Career

After finishing her education, Dr. Hill-Briggs started her career helping others. She first worked at New York University Medical Center. In 1996, she joined the team at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which is a very famous university.

Early Work at Johns Hopkins

At JHU, Dr. Hill-Briggs wrote important papers about how people with diabetes could solve problems related to managing their health. Her ideas helped create new ways for people to take care of themselves. In 2009, she received an award for her great work in preventing and caring for diabetes in the community.

Helping People Manage Diabetes

As an associate professor, Dr. Hill-Briggs helped create a special program. This program taught people with diabetes, especially those with lower incomes, how to better manage their condition. She even won an award for a video called DECIDE to Move! This video helped people with type 2 diabetes learn about physical activity. It was part of a bigger study to help urban patients manage their diabetes.

Later that year, she also won an award for her research paper about how diabetes can affect thinking skills. This showed how important it was to understand all the ways diabetes impacts people.

Leadership and Recognition

During her time at JHU, Dr. Hill-Briggs became a senior leader in health research. She also worked with the Welch Center, which focuses on preventing diseases. In 2015, she joined the board of directors for the American Diabetes Association, a major organization helping people with diabetes. That same year, she became a full professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, which is a huge achievement!

Two years later, she was elected president of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association. This shows how much trust and respect she earned from her colleagues.

National Recognition and Impact

Because of her important research, Dr. Hill-Briggs was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2017. This is one of the highest honors for scientists in the United States. She also received the Rachmiel Levine Medal for her leadership and service to the American Diabetes Association.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hill-Briggs received a large grant to study the type 2 diabetes epidemic. This project aimed to help many people across the state.

Personal Life

Dr. Felicia Hill-Briggs passed away on June 23, 2023.