Lexington, KY – Ashley Webb, RN, LDE, System Diabetes Education Coordinator for Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Advancing the Vision Award from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), one of the nation’s highest honors recognizing innovative leadership in diabetes care and education.

The award recognizes individuals and programs that are expanding access to diabetes care while advancing the future of diabetes education through innovation, collaboration, and community impact.

Webb received the national award during the ADCES Annual Conference held in Columbus, Ohio, where diabetes care and education professionals from across the United States gathered to share best practices and celebrate excellence in the field.

For Webb, the recognition represents something much larger than an individual achievement.

“This award belongs to so many people,” Webb said. “It belongs to every participant who walked through the doors of a Diabetes Connection meeting, every healthcare provider who believed in referring patients, and every person living with diabetes who trusted us enough to become part of their journey.”

Since joining ARH, Webb has worked to expand diabetes education beyond the traditional clinic setting by creating innovative community-based programs focused on improving access to care throughout rural Appalachia.

One of those programs, Diabetes Connection, has grown from two support group locations serving 22 participants in 2022 to a network spanning Kentucky and West Virginia. Since its launch, the program has served more than 700 individuals through nearly 3,900 participants’ visits, providing diabetes education, peer support, health screenings, cooking demonstrations, physical activity programs, and connections to valuable community resources.

The program has also demonstrated measurable health improvements, with participants achieving significant weight loss and improved A1C levels while building lasting relationships that support long-term diabetes management.

As System Diabetes Education Coordinator, Webb also oversees ARH’s accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program, community diabetes screening initiatives, and efforts to expand diabetes prevention services throughout Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia.

“Receiving this award reinforces something I’ve believed from the beginning, that where someone lives should never determine the quality of diabetes care they receive,” Webb said. “People in rural communities deserve access to education, encouragement, and support just as much as anyone else. I’m incredibly grateful to Appalachian Regional Healthcare for believing in this vision and giving me the opportunity to help build programs that truly make a difference.”

Webb says the recognition is both an honor and a motivation to continue expanding services for people living with diabetes across the System.

“This isn’t the finish line,” she said. “It’s encouragement to keep dreaming bigger, building stronger partnerships, and finding new ways to reach the people who need us most.”

The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists is the leading professional organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by diabetes through education, management, and advocacy.

For more information about ARH Diabetes Services or Diabetes Connection, visit https://www.arh.org/diabetes or contact the ARH Diabetes Education Program at ewebb2@arh.org

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