With CDC Support, Northwell to Expand Diabetes Prevention Services

After four years of dedicated work alongside community partners, Northwell Health has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Umbrella Hub Organization (UHO) for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). This designation positions Northwell to dramatically expand access to diabetes prevention services and facilitate reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid and other payers in New York, ensuring the sustainability and growth of this vital public health initiative.

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Dr. Stephanie Fitzpatrick and her team developed the Northwell NDPP Community Network to bring together community-based organizations within Northwell’s coverage areas. (Credit: Feinstein Institutes)

The CDC’s NDPP is a lifestyle change program proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in individuals at high risk. Stephanie L. Fitzpatrick, PhD, professor in the Institute of Health System Science at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, and her team developed the Northwell NDPP Community Network to bring together community-based organizations within Northwell’s coverage areas to deliver the program to those who need it most.

“This UHO status opens doors for broader access and financial sustainability, allowing us to reach many more individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes, acknowledging our commitment to community health and our effective partnerships,” said Dr. Fitzpatrick, Simons Distinguished Chair in Clinical Research. “This achievement required a team approach, and I want to acknowledge and thank my colleagues and community partners who deliver a research-backed program that changes lives and prevents chronic disease.”

With support from the Northwell Institute for Community Health and Wellness – led by Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, executive vice president at Northwell’s Institute for Community Health and Wellness – and the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention, the Northwell NDPP Community Network currently includes the YMCA of Long Island, Inc., Carter Burden Network (East Harlem), and Greater Springfield Community Church (Jamaica, Queens). From 2024-2025, these organizations successfully delivered the group-based, 12-month program to a total of 52 community members across their three sites.

Participants who completed the program developed new healthy habits, significantly increased physical activity, and achieved meaningful weight loss. Following the successful completion of their first cohorts, each partner organization earned CDC Preliminary Recognition Status, demonstrating their effectiveness in delivering the NDPP.

Key outcomes and participant feedback highlight the program’s impact:

• Significant health improvements: Many participants achieved substantial health gains, including an average weight loss of up to 7.45 lbs (4.13 percent from baseline weight) in one cohort. Across all cohorts, a notable percentage of participants achieved the critical 5 percent or more weight loss target, a key indicator for diabetes prevention.
• Increased physical activity: The program fostered significant increases in physical activity, with 100 percent of participants in two cohorts reporting engaging in 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week.
• High participant satisfaction: Post-program surveys revealed overwhelming satisfaction, with participants rating the quality of the program and lifestyle coaches highly (averaging 4.9/5 and 5/5 stars, respectively).
• Life-changing experiences: Participants praised the program for its educational content, supportive instructors, and the accountability fostered by the group setting.

“The UHO designation is an affirmation of Northwell's commitment to ‘Raising Health for All’ – a mission that is woven into the fabric of our not-for-profit system,” said Dr. Salas-Lopez. “Health is cultivated where people live, learn, and work, and this status expands our ability to dismantle barriers to prevention and address the root causes of chronic disease, right in the heart of our communities. It secures the sustainability of vital programs that not only prevent diabetes but also invest in healthier, more resilient futures for New Yorkers.”

As a CDC-recognized UHO with Preliminary Recognition Status, the Northwell NDPP Community Network is now eligible for reimbursement through Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance payers for delivering the NDPP. This critical funding mechanism will facilitate the Network’s expansion, allowing Northwell Health and its partners to reach even more individuals in at-risk communities and further reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes across New York.

“This UHO recognition is a testament to Dr. Stephanie Fitzpatrick’s scientific leadership and unwavering dedication to translating medical research into better health,” said Karina Davidson, PhD, director of the Institute of Health System Science at the Feinstein Institutes. “At Northwell, we create scalable programs that improve health – being a UHO enables us to scale proven diabetes prevention efforts, leading to healthier lives.”

Dr. Fitzpatrick was recently elected a Fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, building on her extensive leadership in expanding access to evidence-based chronic disease prevention, including the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

About the Feinstein Institutes

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50+ research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, molecular medicine, and translational research. We are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – an innovative field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. The Feinstein Institutes publishes two open-access, international peer-reviewed journals Molecular Medicine and Bioelectronic Medicine. Through the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, we offer an accelerated PhD program. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.

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