Diabetes Prevention Program

Our PreventT2 Program Certified Lifestyle Coaches
Picture
Click to Enlarge
​Elizabeth Caruthers, RDN, CDCES
Elizabeth Caruthers is a Registered Dietitian, board-certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Coordinator for the Nutrition and Diabetes Programs at Community Health and Wellness Center. She received her BS in Nutrition from the University of Maryland in 1995. Elizabeth’s background includes acute care, private practice, and community health.  
​
She works with both children and adults and loves helping her clients experience a better quality of life by making healthy changes step by step.  Elizabeth has been a student of meditation for 15 years and has found mindfulness to be the most valuable tool in her work and life.
Picture
Click to Enlarge
Jacki Alessio, LCSW
Jacki Alessio, LCSW is the Integrated Clinician here at CHWC whose role is to connect patients to Behavioral Health services offered in our outpatient department and refer to higher level community provider services as needed. Jacki’s office is embedded in the Southside medical unit which enables her to assist primary care providers, nurses, patient assess representatives, community health workers, our dental team and many more personnel in their interactions with our patients.

​Most patients know Jacki for the initial brief assessments/safety evaluations, biopsychosocial intakes, 1:1 sessions or group therapies. Having the opportunity to be trained in the PreventT2 program changed her/their own life, giving her the confidence to support lifestyle changes for our T2 diabetes at risk patients.
Picture
Click to Enlarge
Heather Matthews, CHW
Heather Matthews is a Community Health Worker at Community Health and Wellness Center.  In her role as a CHW she assists patients with a variety of services from housing, transportation, advocacy, and many other things. Heather is an ADCES Certified Diabetes Level 2 Paraprofessional as well as an ADCES DPP Certified Lifestyle Coach. She also assists patients in connecting with Nutrition Services, Diabetes Prevention and Diabetes Education Services.
 
In her spare time Heather enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle by weightlifting, doing yoga, hiking and meal prep. Her lifestyle and personal fitness pursuits are an adjunct in teaching health lifestyle goals for her patients.