African American men suffer disproportionately from preventable diseases and have the lowest life expectancy than any other ethnic group. The Crisis of the African American Male is further complicated by ongoing health care disparities. Early detection and intervention are necessary to address this growing trend.
The Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation launched The Black Barbershop Outreach Program in December 2007 to address the at-risk African American male population throughout the country for cardiovascular disease . Black owned barbershops represent a cultural institution that regularly attractslarge numbers of black men and provides an environment of trust and an avenue to disseminate health education information .During The Black Barbershop Program volunteers have measure blood pressures and screen for diabetes in over 23 cities across the country. Customers with abnormal findings are referred to participating physicians or health care facilities. In some instances, men have been sent directly to the emergency room because of abnormal findings. More commonly, participates are given information about health care resources in their immediate community. In Los Angeles, we have developed "THE REAL BLACK BOOK / Medical Resource Guide" which is a compilation of free or low cost health care resources.
The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has developed key strategic partners around the country to address health care disparities in African American men. In order to reach our goal to screen over 500, 000 men by the year 2012 we are reaching out to every fraternity, sorority, medical school, nurse, corporate entity and philanthropists help us prevent premature death in African American men from cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer.
Dr. BILL RELEFORD, a graduate of the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, began his practice in 1990 and established the Diabetic Foot Institute, a facility dedicated exclusively to the reduction of diabetes-related amputations in high-risk populations. Dr. Releford is recognized both domestically as well as internationally as a leader in the field of diabetic limb salvage wound care.
Dr. Releford’s limb salvage success and philosophy was formalized in the development of the Daniel Freeman Wound Care Center where platelet-derived growth factor therapy was used to facilitate healing of chronic wounds via angiogenesis. A multi-disciplinary approach to limb salvage was exercised where vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialist, plastic surgeons, endocrinologist and podiatrists would collaborate solely for the benefit of salvaging a foot at risk of amputation.
Dr. Releford is founder and CEO of The Releford Institute for Limb Salvage and Wound Care at Miracle Mile Medical Center in Los Angeles. The Releford Institute’s mission is to effectively decrease the diabetes related amputation rate in Los Angeles and its surrounding communities by providing a comprehensive wound care and limb salvage service. The Releford Institute addresses patients specialized needs and creates individual treatment plans to heal wounds and prevent amputations.
Dr. Releford’s community outreach and health care advocacy efforts are facilitated through the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation (DAP), a non profit organization he founded in 2001, whose mission is to increase public awareness of diabetes through culturally specific education and community based programs. The
education of at risk populations to better understand the disease, its complications as well as the standard of care as it relates to diabetes is the primary focus. Our primary goal is to decrease the amputation rate among high risk populations both domestically and internationally through prevention / education, early detection and access to state-of-art technologies and applying a multi-disciplinary approach to managing the disease. Domestically, Dr. Releford and the DAP Foundation have been recognized for the success of innovative and effective community outreach programs.
Additionally, Dr. Releford has recently authored his much anticipated book, “Five Colors to Better Health”.
Dr. Releford and his work have been featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC’s THE VEIW as a featured guest, The Washington Post, Newsweek as well as the Los Angeles Times.
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