Pilar is our second “Making a Difference Exemplar” scholarship recipient. She states, “Ever since elementary school, I have aspired to evolve into a CDCES.” As the daughter of someone with Type 2 Diabetes, she witnessed the inadequacies of the current healthcare system in humanizing care provided to individuals with diabetes. She goes on to say that our current system “often pathologizes valid behaviors, particularly those belonging to the intersectionality of marginalized identities lacking the privileges upon which many diabetes recommendations rely.”

In Pilar’s role as a nutritionist within a federally qualified health center, she serves a diverse community primarily composed of Cantonese, Mam, and Spanish speakers, many of whom are undocumented individuals or newly settled residents, grappling with significant challenges to accessing various social determinants of health, particularly in terms of food and housing insecurity.   The health concerns include prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, and multiple comorbidities. This dynamic range of health issues necessitates a tailored and holistic approach to nutrition counseling and support. Pilar’s daily responsibilities encompass a spectrum of activities aimed at providing comprehensive care, including nutrition counseling, case management, and group support using the shared medical model.