Live HealthSmart Alabama
The additional funding will allow LHSA to expand into additional rural areas, starting with Clanton and Oneonta, as well as urban centers like Montgomery. , a program of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is expanding its work to make good health simple thanks to a renewed commitment from Novo Nordisk, Inc., and its cross-sector social impact platform, The Interrupt, which is contributing $4 million over the next three years to support the initiative’s continued growth and accessibility across Alabama.
“Our work is only possible because of strong, trusted partnerships like this one,” said Mona Fouad, M.D., CEO of LHSA. “We are grateful for Novo Nordisk’s continued commitment, which allows us to respond to local priorities and help create long-term improvements in health outcomes across Alabama.”
Novo Nordisk, a global pharmaceutical company focused on defeating chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, first partnered with LHSA through a $2.7 million investment in 2023 in support of the initiative’s work across Alabama, including rural communities like Selma and Demopolis and larger cities such as Dothan.
With the added funding, LHSA will continue expanding into additional rural areas, starting with Clanton and Oneonta, as well as urban centers like Montgomery.
Through the partnership, LHSA has been able to expand its prevention and wellness and nutrition initiatives, support improvements to the built environment, strengthen partnerships with local organizations and leaders, and more.
“This gift builds on our initial investment and reflects our strong belief in Live HealthSmart Alabama,” said Apurva Patel, U.S. Corporate Sustainability and Social Impact director, Novo Nordisk. “What began as an early commitment has grown into a proven, collaborative model, one that is expanding reach, unlocking new partners and delivering real impact.”
The partnership is driven by LHSA’s community-informed approach to improving health outcomes. Rather than implementing one-size-fits-all solutions, LHSA works directly with residents, community leaders and local organizations to identify each community’s unique needs and priorities before building programs and services around them.
LHSA is a partner of The Interrupt, a collaborative platform founded by Novo Nordisk to support sustainable, community-driven change. With a proven, community-rooted approach, LHSA is strengthened through corporate and civic partners, which embodies The Interrupts’ multi-sector model and supports its expansion across Alabama.
Since 2022, with the support of The Interrupt and Novo Nordisk, LHSA has delivered measurable results across Alabama communities including Birmingham, Selma, Demopolis, Dothan and others. Working alongside partners including Uber Health, Alabama Power, Brasfield & Gorrie, and many others, the initiative has delivered more than 5,800 wellness visits, connected 15.2 percent of participants to a primary care provider, served more than 16,600 customers through mobile groceries operating across 29 ZIP codes, and built or repaired more than 20,000 linear feet of sidewalks to expand safe access to physical activity.
“With this support, Live HealthSmart Alabama can move faster and farther, expanding into new communities while building on the progress already underway across Birmingham and central Alabama,” said Teresa Shufflebarger, chief administrative officer of Live HealthSmart Alabama.
With Novo Nordisk’s continued leadership and the collaborative reach of The Interrupt, Live HealthSmart Alabama is positioned to expand its impact and invite new partners into the work ahead. Together, these efforts reflect a growing commitment to making good health simple for all.