When Mark Dais walks through the doors at Unity Health Care’s East of the River Health Center, he’s quick with a smile and a friendly word for the staff. He’s well-known at the center, not just for his upbeat spirit but for how seriously he takes caring for his health.
Born and raised in DC, Mr. Dais is now 66 years old and has lived with diabetes and chronic kidney disease for years. Managing his health is a full-time commitment, one he embraces with determination and a bright sense of humor.
Over the years, he’s learned that living well with diabetes and kidney disease takes more than just medicine. It takes knowledge, consistency, and, most importantly, access to nutritious foods that make healthy habits possible.
Before the food pharmacy opened, getting the types of food needed to manage his health conditions wasn’t easy. Living in a neighborhood with few places to buy affordable, fresh produce made it challenging to keep his diet on track. “You can hardly find brown rice or whole wheat pasta, and when you do, the price is so high you can’t afford it,” he says. He often felt drained of energy and would get tired walking even short distances.
That’s why, when the Capital Area Food Bank partnered with Unity Health Care to open a food pharmacy right inside the East of the River clinic in September, it was, as Mark puts it, “a game changer.” He can see and feel the impact of that access to nutritious food: he’s dropped weight, he’s moving more, and he’s staying active without feeling worn out. “It gives me something good for my body,” he says.
Each time he visits the food pharmacy, Mark rolls up with a cart ready to pick up fresh produce, proteins, and pantry staples that are delivered to the pharmacy from the food bank weekly. And he doesn’t stop there — he grabs CAFB recipe cards and produce guides that help him figure out what to cook and how to use ingredients he’s never tried before. For him, it’s another way to keep learning and stay on top of his health.
“They have such a variety at the food pharmacy. They have fruits like oranges, apples, pineapples, kiwi, and more. And then on top of all that, there are also seasonings right here. You know how hard it is to find some of this stuff in the store. And you can get it here for free.”
Behind this progress is a team of people working together. Dr. Tiffany Garrett, Unity’s medical director for East of the River, says the food pharmacy is already making a visible difference for patients like Mr. Dais. “We’re seeing people’s A1Cs and BMIs go down, both key measures that indicate an improvement in patient health. They can see their doctor and pick up healthy groceries the same day. It’s huge for our community.”
Mr. Dais’s care team also includes Dr. Paola Acevedo, a clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes care and education specialist who helps him manage his medications. When they first started working together, he needed multiple insulin shots every day. Now, thanks to changes in both his treatment and diet, he uses just one weekly insulin injection — a big milestone for someone managing advanced kidney disease.
“He’s easy to work with because he’s so motivated to put his health first,” says Dr. Acevedo. “He brings his records, he asks questions, and the food pharmacy gives him the real, practical tools he needs to keep doing it.”
The collaboration between the food bank and Unity means that neighbors like Mr. Dais don’t have to choose between caring for their health and putting food on the table. Instead, they can leave a check-up with healthy groceries and the nutritional knowledge they need to keep moving forward.
For Mr. Dais, it all comes back to how he feels each day. These days, that means having more energy to walk, to stay active, and to keep showing up at the clinic with his trademark smile and an encouraging word for the staff.
“I feel good,” he says. “And I’m going to keep it that way.”
Photo credits: Maansi Srivastava