Salinas Valley Health Celebrates Children’s Day with Diabetes Wellness Event

Salinas, CA, -  Salinas Valley Health welcomed children and families to its annual Children’s Day celebration bringing together wellness activities, preventive healthcare services and community resources designed to support children living with diabetes and their families.

Hosted by the Salinas Valley Health Diabetes & Endocrine Center and UCSF Madison Clinic for Pediatric Diabetes, the 2026 event was themed “Dive Into Wellness” and provided interactive activities to engage families in the importance of healthy lifestyles, preventive care and access to specialized diabetes services close to home.

Salinas Valley Health partnered with UCSF to establish the pediatric diabetes clinic so families in Monterey County could receive expert pediatric diabetes care locally rather than traveling to the Bay Area. Since opening in 2018, the clinic has helped hundreds of children and their families access specialized treatment, education and ongoing support in their own community.

“Children living with diabetes already face enough challenges,” said Allen Radner, MD, Salinas Valley Health President/CEO. “We’re proud to be able to offer exceptional pediatric diabetes care and be a part of innovative treatments and clinical trials.”

Beneath the fun festivities of the annual event is an important message: today’s discoveries can become tomorrow’s treatments. Through the leadership of Dr. Nicolas Kissell and the clinic’s participation in Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet, local families have opportunities to learn about research aimed at identifying Type 1 diabetes risk earlier and advancing new approaches to prevention and care.

Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet is a national research network dedicated to the early detection and prevention of Type 1 diabetes. Through TrialNet screening, relatives of individuals with Type 1 diabetes can receive a simple blood test to identify early-stage Type 1 diabetes before symptoms develop, creating opportunities for earlier monitoring and emerging prevention strategies.

Children’s Day also included the presentation of diabetes camp scholarships made possible through fundraising efforts by Spreckels Bakery. For three-year-old Oliver Serrano Valdez, the scholarship means an opportunity to attend diabetes camp for the first time this summer alongside other children learning to manage life with diabetes.

“Oliver has been with the Madison Clinic since his diagnosis at a very young age,” said his mother, Maria Serrano Valdez. “The entire pediatric diabetes team is fabulous and we are so excited about the opportunity for him to attend diabetes camp.”

“The relationships we build with families extend far beyond clinic visits,” said Gina Capodanno, MD, physician leader for the Madison Clinic for Pediatric Diabetes. “Children’s Day is a celebration of the resilience of our patients and the support network that surrounds them. We are grateful for our community partners and everyone who helps create opportunities for children living with diabetes to learn, grow and thrive.”

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843