PinnacleHealth’s Brenda Thompson works closely with Spanish-speaking churches, helping to identify their members’ top health issues. 

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Thompson says, "For our population, the Latino Population, it's typically diabetes." 

Thompson says her role is to break down language barriers and build trust in the Latino community. Helping her do that is registered nurse Hilda Rivera, who calls the prevention and treatment of diabetes a family affair. 

Rivera says, "I feel like I’m giving a lot back to the community. I’m helping them control their diabetes and seeing improvement. I’m not seeing these patients getting amputations, having heart attacks and all the other problems that come with this disease."

Rivera and Thompson say their work is not only rewarding – it’s a blessing.

"It allows the Latino population to feel comfortable, they can speak to a professional Latina that can assist with their needs," Thompson says.