Every year, the Iowa Hospital Association honors a select few individuals from across the state for their Hospital Heroes Awards, and this year they’ve chosen a representative from Dallas County Hospital.

Lupita Chavez, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and the hospital’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, was selected as one of ten honorees for this year’s Heroes Awards. Chavez has worked at DCH for 17 years, most recently teaching classes at the hospital and community to promote health and wellness. Some of the classes and programs she conducts are diabetes prevention, diabetes self-management, low-impact aerobics, Zumba, and high-intensity interval training, all in both English and Spanish. She also led the research study called Abriendo Caminos, which was a partnership with ISU Extension that focused on educating Mexican families on healthy diet and exercise.

Chavez was nominated for the award for her community impact and commitment to the hospital’s mission of improving people’s health. She will receive the award at IHA’s next meeting this fall. Since 2007, over 100 individuals throughout Iowa have been given the Hospital Heroes Award.