Susan Buell | Diabetes Coverage Team

Susan Buell is part of the Diabetes Coverage Team, providing technical assistance and expertise to build capacity for public and private payer coverage of the National DPP lifestyle change program. Susan helps State Health Departments leverage opportunities to offer the National DPP as a covered benefit under current Medicaid and Medicare authorities through public health infrastructure, partnerships, programs, and services.  

Prior to joining NACDD, Susan served as the Association Director of Health Initiatives for the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Pierce and Kitsap Counties in Washington state. She has dedicated her career to leading individuals, organizations, and systems to achieve their best community health outcomes. Susan implemented evidence-based chronic disease prevention and intervention programs, including the National DPP, to address health inequities in communities through her role at the YMCA. Prior to Susan’s tenure at the YMCA, she served as a health educator for a medical practice in the Washington, DC, metro area, as faculty for the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and as an analyst for Lewin Value Health, Inc. on a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention project.

Susan received a Bachelor of Science in health service management and health education at the University of Maryland; a certificate in French language and literature at La Sorbonne; and attended the University of Connecticut. Susan gratefully travels life with three adult children, a loving partner, and two perky puppies in Gig Harbor, Washington.