Program - Memorial Hermann Health Centers for Schools
Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas.

Memorial Hermann operates health centers on-site at five campuses in the greater Houston area that serve more than 21,000 children at 28 schools and provide accessible primary health care, mental health services, nutritional guidance and dental care at no charge to uninsured and underinsured children. The Houston community faces barriers to care, with one-third of the population lacking health insurance. Memorial Hermann has committed to a long-term effort to serve the medically disadvantaged with a focus on children in need. Since 1995, Memorial Hermann has committed $9.6 million to this effort.
Program - Nutrition Center for Maine
Saint Mary's Health System, Lewiston, Maine.

St. Mary's Health System works to feed the hungry, provide access to locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, provide nutrition education and combat obesity through the St. Mary's Nutrition Center of Maine. The Center grew out of collaborative efforts between St. Mary's Food Pantry, which is the largest emergency food pantry in New England and St. Mary's Lots to Gardens program, which created 15 community gardens to provide access to fresh food. Together, these programs distribute over 12,980 boxes of food annually to more than 26,000 community members; offer nutrition and cooking classes; and run a youth intern program that provides participants with valuable leadership skills.

Program - Partnership for Community Health
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif.

Partnership for Community Health provides critically needed outpatient medical care and preventive services to patients who lack any form of health coverage. Partnership for Community Health works to improve access to primary care through existing community clinics and increase access to specialty health care through development of a referral program with California Pacific Medical Center affiliated specialists. Each clinic develops its own health plan based on its infrastructure and the unique needs of the community it serves. California Pacific Medical Center has funded the program at $2 million per year for the past three years with 63 percent of the patients served being below the federal poverty level.

The 2008 AHA NOVA Award winners were selected from almost 67 applications, recommended by the AHA NOVA Award Committee and approved by the AHA Board of Trustees. The award is co-sponsored by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

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