MSMS Foundation, WMed Helps Combat Diabetes in Kalamazoo

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MSMS Foundation, WMed Helps Combat Diabetes in Kalamazoo

Wednesday, December 9, 2015
WMed second-year medical students: Yen-Yu Tina Chen, Thu N. Nguyen, Michael A. Behun, McKenzie J. Akers, Amy Chonghasawat, Peter White, MSMS Alliance member and Area Agency on Aging IIIA coordinator, Norma Bour, MSMS President Rose M. Ramirez, MD, Representative David Maturen (R-Vicksburg), District Director for Senator Margaret O'Brien (R-Portage), Megan Hicks, and Representative Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo).

Michigan State Medical Society President and officials with the Michigan State Medical Society Foundation on Monday presented a check for $2,200 to medical students at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), to support their work teaching patients how to better manage their Type 2 diabetes by providing free testing supplies to Kalamazoo-area patients.

The grant will support a new Kalamazoo Diabetes PATH study, which helps provide patients with custom diabetes kids designed to help them better manage the disease, including glucometers, test strips, lancets, nutrition bars, and a pedometer.

"The Michigan State Medical Society is proud to partner with Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine students and to support their efforts to combat diabetes," said Michigan State Medical Society President Rose M. Ramirez, MD. "We're learning more about diabetes every day and it's because of students and researchers like these. We're incredibly proud of the work they're doing and the healthier future they're helping make possible for so many in Kalamazoo and across the state.

According to Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services, 21.6 percent of individuals with an annual income below $20,000 are diagnosed with diabetes in Kalamazoo County.

The Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine's diabetes PATH study will provide participating patients with free test supply kits and monitor their health and diabetes management, to help discover the best ways to combat the disease in the future.

The Michigan State Medical Society is a professional association of more than 15,000 Michigan physicians. Its mission is to promote a health care environment which supports physicians in caring for, and enhancing the health of Michigan citizens through science, quality, and ethics in the practice of medicine. Please visit www.msms.org for more information.

Founded in 1945 by Michigan physicians, the Michigan State Medical Society Foundation is the nonprofit charitable organization of MSMS.

Foundation provides a charitable outlet for doctors who wish to express their compassion beyond the medical office. It is supported by physicians and their families through annual contributions, by participation in events like the annual Golf & Tennis Classic and through bequests and other planned gifts.

Its mission is to support public or professional education, research programs and projects in the field of health; to encourage the advancement of healthy lifestyles and the prevention, diagnosis or cure of disease; to offer support for physicians who suffer impairment; and to provide a resource for the management and distribution of signature funds or bequests designated for special purposes. Please visit www.msms.org/Foundation for more information.