Alumna wins national award for diabetes research advocacy

Sally Waters Southard ’77 still remembers what the kindly doctor told her when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 10 years of age.  

Don’t worry, he reassured her, a cure will be found in your lifetime.  

That was more than 50 years ago. But Southard has never lost sight of that mission — to find a cure for the complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. 

“I’m still hoping it will be in my lifetime,” she said. “That’s why I’m so passionate about doing whatever I can to help. 

“We want to find the cure. We want to turn Type One into Type None. That’s the goal of everybody involved with JDRF.” 

For decades, Southard, a pediatric nurse who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roanoke College, has been one of the state’s biggest advocates for the nonprofit JDRF and the leading-edge work it supports.  

From the very first year that a local chapter of the foundation opened, she’s laced up her tennis shoes for its annual fundraising walk, helped organize its charity galas and worked to raise awareness about the far-reaching impact of T1D.  

She went on to become a longtime board member of the local chapter and, to date, has volunteered for 15 clinical trials with the University of Virginia to help researchers perfect advancements in treatment.  

On Nov. 2, her tireless advocacy was recognized with one of the top honors bestowed by the national office of JDRF.  

During the foundation’s annual conference in D.C., Southard was presented with the Erwin Lurie Award, which is named after one of the nonprofit’s founders and celebrates a standout volunteer whose dedication has “significantly advanced the mission and strategic priorities” of diabetes research. 

“Sally is an all-around T1D champion, from welcoming new members into the community to sharing her knowledge and raising funds to accelerate life-changing research,” said Jaclyn Toll, executive director of JDRF’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter. 

Southard has a more than 40-year track record of supporting the cause, Toll added, and has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles.  

“We thank Sally for her longstanding commitment to our mission and congratulate her on this well-deserved award,” she said. 

Southard, who’s currently on the executive council for JDRF’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter, said she was stunned when she got the call at her home in Salem that she was picked for the award.  

“Chills,” she said of her reaction to the news. “I started crying. It’s just so humbling. There are tens of thousands of volunteers across the country, and they all do so much.” 

The spirit of volunteerism has always been part of Southard’s DNA. Growing up in Annapolis, Maryland, she helped her father wrap Claxton fruit cakes each year to sell for charity and accompanied her mother to the local hospital’s volunteer auxiliary or a children’s theater that her mother and other community volunteers created. 

When she enrolled at Roanoke College, Southard found a campus that embraced that ethos of service. She worked alongside her fellow students to raise money for Project HOPE, a hospital ship that responded to health care crises and natural disasters around the world. 

As an alumna, Southard has continued to give back to the college, serving on the President’s Advisory Board, Roanoke College Carilion Clinic Partnership Task Force and more.  

Earlier this year, she was awarded the Roanoke College Medal, which honors outstanding graduates whose lives exemplify leadership, integrity and good citizenship. She’s also a past recipient of the Charles Brown Award for her contributions to the community of Salem, which includes 18 years of service on the city’s school board. 

In 2019, she was presented with the Living and Giving Award from JDRF’s local chapter for her commitment to the foundation’s cause. 

Southard has always been driven to help improve life for people with T1D. Contrary to some common confusion, Type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by diet or lifestyle, but rather by an autoimmune development that prevents the pancreas from making its own insulin and naturally regulating a body’s blood sugar levels. 

The disease can’t currently be reversed, and its fluctuations in a person’s blood sugar can be dangerous — even deadly — if not properly managed. 

JDRF is the biggest nonprofit funder of research into Type 1 diabetes in the world. In addition to working toward a cure, it’s backed projects to develop better treatment options, including continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps that have made managing the condition much easier and safer. 

The technology and understanding of the disease are growing by leaps and bounds, Southard said. That continues to give her hope that a cure can be found. 

“It’s advancing,” she said of the science. “There’s still more to be done. I want to be out there doing whatever I can to find that cure and lessen the burden of this disease on the millions of people who have it.” 

Reflecting on the impact of volunteerism, Southard said she’s always encouraged people to find ways to use their strengths to give back to others. Service can take many forms, she noted, and every person has a vocation that can contribute to change. 

“Whether it's time volunteering at events or using your talents or community ties to help make things happen,” she said. “Whatever you can give makes a difference for others.”