Champions For Health

Champions for Health (formerly the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation (SDCMS Foundation) was recognized as a Live Well San Diego partner on September 27, 2014, at the agency’s inaugural Solana Beach Sunset 5K Run/Walk and Wellness Expo. The event had 650 attendees who helped raise $60,000. The County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September 27 as the “SDCMSF Live Well Day,” because of SDCMS Foundation’s efforts to address and reduce three behaviors (poor eating, lack of exercise, and smoking) that cause preventable diseases such as diabetes, in alignment with the County’s Live Well San Diego goals.

Champions for Health is also piloting an innovative diabetes prevention initiative that utilizes emergency department interventions. The number of San Diegans diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes continues to rise, with more than 170,000 county residents currently living with diabetes (>6% of the population). More than 4,000 emergency department visits in San Diego County are associated with diabetes, and death and hospitalization rates associated with diabetes continue to rise. However, Jump Start for Health endeavors to address these statistics and turn around the rates of diabetes among low-income, uninsured populations vulnerable to poor health. Additionally, Champions for Health continues to partner with San Diego County for Love Your Heart Day, a program of Live Well San Diego, and for the San Diego Immunization Program.