AHA Award for Collaboration

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

July 18, 2022 - The American Hospital Association (AHA) is presenting Salinas Valley Health and Montage Health with a prestigious award today for the impactful and collaborative work by the two organizations to address the diabetes threat in Monterey County.

Watch AHA video on the 2022 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award here.

Read the full AHA news release here.

Summary Behind National Award:

The Monterey County Diabetes Collaborative (MCDC) aims to reduce type 2 diabetes in an ethnically diverse Central Coast region of California known for its breathtaking beauty, tourism and produce production. Monterey County also faces a health threat where 1 in 8 people have diabetes, and half of all adults have prediabetes, including the predominantly Latino agricultural work force.

Two competing health systems with a history of collaboration took on the diabetes crisis by launching the Monterey County Diabetes Collaborative focused on awareness, workshops and free customized wellness coaching for adults and children. The innovative initiative also builds on another co-sponsored program, Blue Zones Project Monterey County, bringing together schools, restaurants, faith-based organizations and policy makers to reach people where they live, work and play. Public and private entities are helping to fulfill the Collaborative vision by creating walking paths, community gardens and vegetable-centric menu options to effectively lower diabetes rates in Monterey County and on the Central Coast.

Learn more and view a video of local impact of the Monterey County Diabetes Collaborative at the bottom of page: www.dontfeedthediabetes.com