Adelante Healthcare CEO Avein Saaty-Tafoya has been named the 2014 Changemaker by The Center for Health Design. Saaty-Tafoya was honored for using local resources and space planning as strategic initiatives to improve community health, according to an article on The Center for Health Design's website.

Given annually, the award honors individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional ability to change the way healthcare facilities are designed and built, and whose work has broad impact on the advancement of healthcare design.

As the CEO of Adelante Healthcare, a community health center with seven sites, Avein has overseen delivery of comprehensive primary care services to 40,000 patients in Phoenix and surrounding communities in Maricopa County, Ariz., since 2006.

“Avein's dedication to clinical excellence is matched only by her passion for the aesthetics and functional aspects of the built environment. She views space planning as a strategic initiative to support care delivery innovation. Her approach to improving the health of the community includes offering on-site farmers market days and cooking classes focused on nutritious, local food. In addition, she has established the first LEED Platinum certified health center in the nation," said Jain Malkin, an award selection committee member.

Read the article.