MUSC, Local Groups Want to Eliminate Health Disparities for African Americans

CHARLESTON -- Local groups dedicated to eliminating high rates of amputation, and decreasing risk of hypertension and stroke associated with diabetes received $4.25 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish the South Eastern African American Center of Excellence to Eliminate Disparities (SEA-CEED).

SEA-CEED, a regional and national initiative, has the potential to reach 1.75 million African Americans (approximately 300,000 with diabetes) and decrease risks of hypertension, stroke and amputations.

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing's (CON) REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) Charleston program, in collaboration with the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, local agencies, provider groups, and community organizations, will serve as one of 18 centers in the U.S. The centers are dedicated to providing African Americans with better education for those at risk for diabetes and resources to eliminate barriers to quality health care for patients with diabetes. The five-year grant will support efforts to address and overcome the unique causes of health disparities related to diabetes in 121 counties in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Locally, the CDC funding benefits residents in Charleston and Georgetown counties and will expand to counties in the tri-state region. Carolyn Jenkins, Dr.PH, CON professor and Ann Darlington Edwards endowed chair has been recognized nationally for her efforts to improve diabetes outcomes in Charleston and Georgetown counties.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this funding and to continue the great work accomplished with our communities and to share our efforts with other communities," she said. "Through the Diabetes Initiative and the College of Nursing, we have been working with local communities since 1994 to improve care for people with diabetes, and to decrease amputations."

Jenkins emphasized that building successful community partnerships and ownership are essential to reaching goals set by the group. Seed grants will encourage community groups to implement novel programs, while working collaboratively with SEA-CEED investigators.

"This program reflects the essence of building healthy communities," said Gail Stuart, Ph.D., College of Nursing dean. "The greatest impact in health care will come from translating what we know about health so that it changes the lives of people and the places in which they live, work and play."

Nationally, the awards are funded through CDC's REACH U.S. program, and target five racial and ethnic groups: African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska natives. REACH U.S. activities focus on a range of key health areas that contribute to health disparities, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer, hepatitis B, asthma, infant mortality, and adult immunizations.

"Despite improvements in the overall health of the nation, health disparities remain one of the most important public health challenges of our time," said Janet Collins, Ph.D., CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion director. "We are extremely excited about the new REACH award recipients because they offer a plethora of knowledge in addressing health disparities and their innovative approaches will help improve people's health in our communities, health care settings, schools, and work sites."

Through the REACH U.S. initiative, 18 national and regional Centers of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEEDs) and 22 Action Communities will be established throughout the country. The CEEDs will serve as national resource centers with expertise in specific ethnic populations and will train additional communities to further spread the impact of REACH activities. The Action Communities will implement and evaluate successful approaches within a specific community to impact population groups, rather than individuals, and focus on key health conditions that contribute to health disparities.

Since 1999, the REACH program has demonstrated that fully engaging communities in health strategies that address the unique social, economic, and cultural circumstances of racial and ethnic minority groups can reduce health disparities. For more information about the REACH program, visit CDC's Web site at www.cdc.gov/reach.

To learn more about REACH Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition and its prior work, please visit its web site at http://reach.musc.edu/ or contact the REACH SEA-CEED Office at 843-792-5872. To learn more about the REACH U.S. program, visit the CDC's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/reach/.

Carolyn Jenkins, DrPH, APRN-BC-ADM, FAAN

Jenkins is a professor and principal investigator for SEA-CEED, the REACH US Center of Excellence based at MUSC. She is available to discuss local efforts. Please contact the REACH SEA-CEED office at (843) 792-4625 to arrange an interview.

Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS

Giles is the director of the CDC's Division of Adult and Community Health. He is available to discuss the REACH US cooperative agreement program. Contact the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion office at (770) 488-5131 for more information.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 10,000 employees, including 1,300 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.3 billion. MUSC operates a 600-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit www.musc.edu or www.muschealth.com.

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