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ABOUT US |
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THE BLACK BARBERSHOP
A familiar place
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 has launched The Black Barbershop Outreach Program to address the at-risk African American male population throughout the country for cardiovascular disease . Black owned barbershops represent a cultural institution that regularly attracts large numbers of black men and provides an environment of trust and an avenue to disseminate health education information .During The Black Barbershop Program volunteers will measure blood pressures and screen for diabetes. Customers with abnormal findings will be referred to participating physicians or health care facilities.
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Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M., founder of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, launched this initiative October of 2007 out of the need to address health care disparities among African Americans. As a
podiatric surgeon based in Los Angeles, Dr. Releford specializes in diabetic limb salvage to help reduce the extraordinary high number of diabetes-related amputations experienced by  African Americans. Early on in his practiced he noticed a disturbing trend: patients were diabetic, African American and recommended for amputation. The astronomical amputation rate in the African American community inspired Dr. Releford to dedicate his life to developing innovative medical as well as advocacy strategies to decrease the amputation rate in underserved populations.
Dr. Bill Releford, a graduate of the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, established The Releford Institute for Limb Salvage and Wound Care at Miracle Mile Medical
Center to exclusively address diabetes-related amputations in high-risk populations around the world. Dr. Releford is recognized both domestically as well as internationally as a leader in the field of limb salvage and wound care and is also Assistant Professor at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. |
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 The mission of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program is empower African American men to better understand diabetes and hypertension and how to prevent its development and complications.
At the core of our mission are the following:
EDUCATION /PREVENTION/ DETECTION
REFERRAL
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BLACK BARBERSHOP ON YOUTUBE
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MY SPACE BLACK BARBERSHOP
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BLACK BARBERSHOP IN THE NEWS
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 Black Barbershop on KTLA Los Angeles
Black Barbershop in Sacramento
Black Barbershop Month Legistlation
NBA star Norm Nixon Named National Spokesperson
Black Barbershop Health Outreach
Program in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Sentinel
ABC News Chicago
Officer Petri Bird of Judge Judy joins effort to spread word about diabetes
Dr. Bill Releford at Smokikng Cessation Summit
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About us 
