Through the generosity of a local donor, the Telluride Foundation has managed a Latino Preventive Health Care Fund for the past four years. This fund has helped local health care providers, such as the Telluride Medical Center (TMC), address the growing need for preventative health care for the Hispanic population. With these funds and TMC's discounted May Health Month, TMC has intervened in numerous lives of local people who come in for an annual exam and blood work. Over the years TMC has identified cases of diabetes, prostate cancer, obesity, depression and other chronic diseases in the Hispanic population.

During a physical exam, diseases that can be altered and prevented by life style management have become more of a focus at TMC, and staff has noticed dramatic positive changes in its patients. Starting in 2006, TMC started offering a standardized 10-15 minute counseling session during the physical exam on lifestyle modification in Spanish and English. Subsequently, its nationally certified medical interpreter, Beth Kuperman, undertook the job of also offering one-on-one counseling after the visit for weight loss and healthy eating. She then went on to offer an annual 6 month weight loss challenge program. Many Hispanic patients benefit from both services, and TMC has seen people transform their lives and health, all with a little education and motivation. The following are two stories of how the Latino Preventive Health Fund has changed lives:

Dr.Sharon Grundy, of the Telluride Medical Center (TMC) shared the following stories about the Telluride Foundation's Latino Preventive Health Fund.

One well known Hispanic family who has lived in Telluride for over 15 years became involved in TMC's Healthy Easting Group and Hiking Group (TMC's medical interpreter, Beth Kuperman, developed a 6- month weight loss challenge program, in which many Hispanic patients participated). This past summer I was hiking with Beth up Bear Creak one Sunday and the entire family- 14 people, ranging from 3 to 60 years of age, was hiking to the top to have a picnic. Beth told me the matriarch and patriarch, prior to her exposing them to exercise and hiking, had never walked the river trail nor been on a hike. Since her intervention, they often hiked the Telluride Trail, walked the River Trail to work, and on this beautiful Sunday they were exposing the whole family to the benefits and empowerment of outdoor activities. It brought me to tears, and I still become a little teary-eyed just writing about this. We see the entire family for issues of obesity, diabetes and depression.

The other story is of an older Hispanic gentleman in his 60s. He came to us during May Health Month a few years ago and was diagnosed with diabetes. He was over weight and had poor habits. He was started on medication and the following year remained stable but still with diabetes. The year we initiated individual counseling and offered help to this population, he became involved. With some simple dietary changes, he lost 25 lbs and his diabetes resolved. He continues to be healthy and a hard working individual in our community. I found out last week that for the past three years has donated $100 dollars of his hard-earned money to the Medical Center each year in appreciation and support of our services and efforts.