Our Leaders
On & Off the Court

Monica Joyce, MS, RD, LD, CDE

Monica Joyce has been a registered dietitian and diabetes educator for over 35 years. She works in an Endocrinology Practice at Northwestern Medicine, North Region in Lake Forest, Ill. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Slam Dunk for Diabetes.  She is also an author, and a local and national speaker to health care professionals on diabetes.  She has numerous articles published on diabetes for health care professionals and has participated in diabetes research. She has been recognized nationally by the American Academy of Foods and Nutrition and the and the American Association of Diabetes Educators for her contribution to children with diabetes. She was selected by the American Academy of Foods and Nutrition for her work with Slam Dunk to be a part of a video series called Heroes: Showcasing the Registered Dietitian.  In 2017 she received an award from the American Association of Diabetes for her contribution to the exercise video : Exercising Safely with Diabetes from the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Teresa S. Alesia, RN, BSN, CDE

Teresa is a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator. She is a pediatric diabetes nurse manager and endocrinology nurse in Pediatric Endocrinology at a Loyola University Medical Center.

Teresa teaches kids and their parents about living with diabetes and provides community outreach education programs so diabetic kids can feel safe at school. She encourages them to participate in sports and be physically active while controlling their blood glucose levels. Teresa has also been an advisory board member and camp coordinator for Slam Dunk basketball camps since 2008.

Dr. Vanessa Davis

Dr. Davis has been a pediatric endocrinologist at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County and Cook County Health since 2009. She has 22 years of experience working with low- and middle-income Chicago residents and people in the Caribbean. Her clinical and research focus on discovering the causes of diabetes health disparities in African American and low-income populations, and developing pathways to improve patient outcomes.

Nancy Todora, RN, BS, CDE

Nancy served as the quality improvement coordinator and educator at Rockford Clinic/Health Physicians in the endocrine department and diabetes and nutrition services. She has been a certified diabetes educator since 1989 and a certified insulin pump trainer for pharmaceutical companies from 1984-2013. Nancy joined Monica and Slam Dunk in 2010; together, they opened the first camp in Rockford, IL, in 2011. She has been medical director of the Rockford area Slam Dunk camp since 2012 and is the current chair of the Northern Illinois Diabetes Coalition, a sponsor of Slam Dunk.

Dr. Jeannie Aschkenasy

Dr. Aschkenasy is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and teenagers. She has been on staff in the Department of pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center/Rush University Children’s Hospital since 1986. She has also been on staff at John H. Stroger Hospital since 2013, and has a part-time private practice. Dr. Aschkenasy works with Dr. Vanessa Davis to providing psychosocial support to families and kids who are living with diabetes. Dr. Aschkenasy also facilitates a parent group for one of the Slam Dunk For Diabetes Camp sessions in Chicago, and loves to follow the kids and their families as they grow. 

Anthony Wofford

Anthony Wofford played basketball at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL for two seasons. He made his mark on the court by being a consistent, “lock-down” defender. Anthony transferred to Eastern Illinois University and became a student manager of the basketball team. After college, Anthony coached basketball at youth summer camps in and around the Chicagoland area. He takes pride in teaching kids how to be the best versions of themselves by working hard and thinking critically on the basketball court.  

Phil Gary

Phil Gary started in the same prep backcourt with NBA player, Iman Shumpert at Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park IL. As a Junior college point guard, he led the nation averaging nine assists to go along with 19 points per game. Coached at the Division I level by Hall of Fame point guard, Isiah Thomas at Florida International University (FIU), Gary was a two year starting point guard and team captain. Gary later moved on to play professionally overseas in Bangladesh, India. He was invited to try out for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants D-league Team. Gary currently is the boys basketball Head Coach at Walter Payton College Prep High School, Chicago IL.

Dennis Guerrero

Dennis has been with Slam Dunk since 2014. He serves as the Administrative Coordinator, Web, Social Media, and Treasurer of Slam Dunk for Diabetes. You may see Dennis in the Chicago Camps or clinics helping with registrations and taking pictures of the Slam Dunk Kids.