By Mark Wozniak
Buffalo, NY – The Independent Health Foundation is providing a grant of $500,000 to the Seneca Nation of Indians. Dr. Michael Cropp, president and CEO of Independent Health, says the money will allow Independent Health and the Senecas to jointly address the challenge diabetes presents to the Seneca community.
"Approaching the Seneca Nation, where the prevalance of diabetes runs up to 50 percent, there's a wonderful opportunity to blend our experience with the knowledge of those people who really understand the culture of the Seneca nation," Cropp said. "We hope to come up with some innovative approaches that will have a dramatic impact on the health of that population."
The collaboration follows a two year pilot project that Independent Health ran in Niagara County. It first involved nearly two dozen physicians, but its success brought the participation of another 327 doctors, caring for over 8,000 diabetics.