BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™

Awarding Innovation in Community Health

An initiative by BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers to expand access and improve care for underserved populations in the U.S.

Previous Winners

Diabetes experts from across the United States convened at Direct Relief's headquarters on July 18, 2019, as a part of the Community Health Summit, which focused on improving diabetes care for the most vulnerable. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in order to share the learnings of past award winners from the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities program. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

For Underserved Patients, A Fresh Approach to Diabetes

Diabetes experts from across the country convene at Direct Relief headquarters for Community Health Summit.

Nasteha Mohamed, psychiatric care coordinator at the Community-University Health Care Center in Minneapolis, speaks with a patient at the health center. The center works to treat patients with a chronic disease like diabetes holistically, and a medical team works to treat mental health issues, too. "You can't treat the mind and the body separately. They’re inseparable," Mohamed said. "To have colleagues from different fields working together to treat the patient as a whole is incredible." (Photo by Donnie Hedden for Direct Relief)

Treating a Chronic Disease, Beginning with Mental Health

People with mental illnesses die 20 years younger on average. Health centers are doing something about it.

“It’s such a gift to be able to come here everyday and physically lay hands on people and assure them that they’re important, and that they have worth and value. It is something that given back to me too.” Sarah Schaefer MD (left) is a physician at Neighborhood Health in Nashville, TN that provides care for the underserved individuals and people experiencing homelessness. Harry Flood (right) is a patient at Neighborhood Health. This photo was taken on July 13th, 2018. PHOTO: DONNIE HEDDEN

BD Partnership Honored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

A partnership between BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers was selected as one of three winners for the U.S. Chamber’s Healthy10 Community award.

Pharmacist Rachel Rivera, right, began the Transitions of Care program in 2019. Beginning in 2020, she began helping Covid-19 patients who were released from the hospital. (Photo courtesy of Henry J. Austin Health Center)

After Covid-19 Patients Come Home

A New Jersey health center has a program designed to get patients released from the hospital the medication and follow-ups they need.

Center for Heathy Aging Patient Maria, and Clinical Pharmacist Michael V. Baxter meet for a consultation at Urban Health Plan, Inc. in Bronx, New York.

An Aging Population Calls for a New Approach to Elder Care. This Health Center is Meeting the Challenge.

Urban Health’s Plan’s Center for Healthy Aging is taking a comprehensive approach to geriatric care.