Diabetes Education Services Staff
Amanda Ewing
Department Assistant
Amanda (Gibson) Ewing enjoys being outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys bonfires with friends and family, cornhole, archery, fishing, and swimming. Last year she and her Fiancé moved into their new home and plan to get married in October of 2021. Amanda previously worked on the Cardiac Telemetry Unit (A4) as a Nurse's Assistant at Munson Medical Center and recently transferred to Diabetes Education as a Department Assistant. Having a family history of diabetes, Amanda jumped at the chance to work for the Diabetes Education Department to educate herself and in hopes of helping others along the way.
Vickie Alexander, RN, CDCES
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Program Quality Coordinator
Vickie has had Type 1 Diabetes for many years herself and loves helping others learn how to live a healthy life with diabetes. She received her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1986 from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Vickie worked in Physical Rehabilitation at Munson Medical Center early in her career, then served as Dementia Respite Services Coordinator, Mental Health Consultant/Trainer, and Senior Companion Services Supervisor at Catholic Human Services before joining the Diabetes Education team in 1996. She obtained her Certification as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in 1999. In her spare time, Vickie enjoys the arts, gardening, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her two adult children.
Michele Pupel, RN
Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Michele has a passion for diabetes that stems from having several members in her family who have diabetes including her father, brother, 2 children and now a grandchild. What she finds most rewarding is being able to listen and then respond by problem solving collaboratively with those who have diabetes and 24/7 are making decisions in self- management. She finds daily that she leaves having gained more knowledge, inspiration and passion by those she is allowed to serve. She enjoys sharing new technology that makes self-management less burdensome and being able to connect with community resources to help break down various barriers in self-management. Michele received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Grand Rapids Junior College in 1988. She has worked in various ambulatory and hospital settings and worked in Endocrinology for 12 years before joining Diabetes Education in 2019. Michele enjoys the outdoors, beaches, hiking trails and walks on the Tart Trail or Civic Center. Her favorite past time is spending time with family.
Elizabeth Mitchell, BSN, RN-BC
Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Elizabeth was born and raised in Northern Michigan. She loves being outdoors and spending her free time with her husband and four children. She enjoys meeting new people through diabetes education and being able to provide them with the tools they need to successfully live healthy and fulfilled lives with diabetes. Elizabeth has her Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree from Ferris State University. Before she was a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist she spent 7 years as a Certified Cardiac/Vascular Nurse for Munson Medical Center. She is excited for many more years with Diabetes Education and learning new things each day from her co-workers and patients.
Melissa Goodchild, RDN, CDCES
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Melissa is a clinical dietitian for Munson Healthcare. She has provided services across the system in both inpatient and outpatient care areas. She currently provides nutrition services for Diabetes Education, Outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy, Adult Bleeding Disorders Services & Thomas Judd Care Center. Melissa received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Missouri State University.
She went on to complete her Dietetic Internship at Central Michigan University and became a Registered Dietitian in 1999. She is also a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist. Melissa enjoys helping patients break through barriers to making healthy changes in their lives.
Christine Russell, MS, RDN, CDCES
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Christine Russell is a clinical dietitian for the Diabetes Education Program at Munson Medical Center. She has a passion for helping others achieve a healthier life through nutrition and lifestyle change. Christine is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and possesses a certificate in adult weight management. Christine obtained a Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Central Michigan University. Christine and Darrell live in Traverse City with their 3 dachshunds. They enjoy boating, kayaking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.