The North Carolina Diabetes Advisory Council (DAC) has recently honored heroes in the fight against diabetes in North Carolina.
The 2018 DAC Awards, which were held on October 26, recognizes individuals and organizations that encourage diabetes prevention and self-management through promotion of eating healthy, being physically active, living tobacco free, getting adequate sleep and participating in a diabetes program or adhering to a personalized diabetes treatment plan.
Awards recognize diabetes prevention and management efforts at worksites, in the community and in health care settings.
Melissa Herman, R.D., LDN, CDE, with FirstHealth’s Diabetes and Nutrition Education program, was recognized this year in the Health Care Provider Award category.
Herman has more than 20 years of experience as a registered dietitian in the diabetes field. She currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Diabetes and Nutrition Education program at FirstHealth, and Program Manager for FirstHealth Bariatrics.
Melissa earned her bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics from Immaculata College, has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since 2000 and is a Certified Health Coach. Melissa has done extensive community work in the area of diabetes, presented at numerous national conferences and has previously sat on the Diabetes Advisory Council at the state level.
Under Herman’s leadership, FirstHealth’s Diabetes and Nutrition Education program received the 2011 Provider of the Year Award from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Additionally, the Diabetes and Nutrition Education program has received numerous national awards from organizations for their work in diabetes care and prevention.
Created in 1988, the DAC works to reduce the burden of diabetes through coordination among the many stakeholders in diabetes control in North Carolina. The group meets three times each year to promote training, discuss new service priority areas and interventions, foster collaboration, and propose strategies for the prevention and control of diabetes. For more information on the DAC, visit diabetesnc.com/DAC.
