UW WyCOA’s True Honored at Wyoming Diabetes Summit

Dian True, regional coordinator and community outreach coordinator for the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, and Dr. Tom Repas, a Gillette endocrinologist, were honored at Elevating Your Practice: The Wyoming Diabetes Summit in Casper.

The two were presented with awards that recognized their pivotal roles in establishing the very infrastructure of diabetes care in Wyoming. The ceremony, which took place April 10, highlighted a partnership of professional excellence that dates back over two decades.

True was celebrated as a "pioneer" and a "mentor of mentors." With a career spanning 25 years, she was a key architect in the 2000 opening of one of Wyoming's first comprehensive diabetes centers in Cody. Her influence, however, extends far beyond clinical practice.

In 2006, she served as the founding president of the Wyoming Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) chapter, providing a vital platform for professional advocacy. Her reach eventually went global, and she represented the profession as an ambassador in major international cities, including Paris, Zurich and Beijing.

"Dian is the reason many of us have a seat at the table," says Ashley Littleton, chair of the coordinating body of the Wyoming ADCES chapter, who presented True with her award.

Littleton emphasized True's work in Washington, D.C., as a legislative liaison and her decades spent ensuring state programs met rigorous national standards for Medicare recognition.

Repas was honored for his visionary leadership as a driving force in regional endocrinology. After completing his fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Repas returned to the wide-open spaces of Wyoming, where he has spent 25 years elevating the standard of patient-centered care.

"Dr. Repas has been the approver of the diabetes continuing education for the diabetes conference (Wyoming Diabetes Summit) we support," says Kara Beech, a regional coordinator for WyCOA. "All education has to have someone with a high level of credentials approving the education provided."

Both True and Repas were credited with leading the 2001 advisory initiatives that secured Centers for Disease Control grant funding necessary to establish the Wyoming Chronic Disease Prevention Program.

While Repas is known professionally as a principal investigator in major Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes clinical trials, the ceremony also shed light on his unique life outside of the clinic. A fourth-generation master beekeeper and an internationally award-winning mead maker, Repas was recognized for practicing the same principles of sustainability and wellness on his family homestead that he advocates for his patients.

The joint recognition of True and Repas served as a reminder of the progress made in rural health care in Wyoming. Their combined efforts have not only improved patient outcomes across the state, but also have built a sustainable framework for the next generation of Wyoming health care providers.