The Fidelis Care Blog

Disparities in health care among African Americans include health care coverage, employment in the sector, and health conditions. African Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or asthma and have a shorter life expectancy than their white counterparts.

February marks Black History Month. As an African American male, I study and engage in Black history every month, but February allows me a time to focus on ways to improve my community and myself.

Fidelis Care presented a $50,000 grant to support Cornell Cooperative Extension Wayne County’s programs to combat regional food insecurity. The grant is part of $315,000 in donations by Fidelis Care to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger across New York State. Food insecurity impacts about one in 10 New York households.

As a Fidelis Care Senior Medical Director, I take immense pride in acknowledging and celebrating Black History Month. This annual observance holds special significance for me, not only as a healthcare professional, but also as a member of the Black community. It provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of the Black community, the challenges it has overcome, and those it still faces. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength that has characterized the Black experience, even in the face of systemic challenges.

In its second year, the Fidelis Care ‘Veggies to Go’ program distributed 1,770 bags of healthy food to individuals and families in need. That adds up to 35,400 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables given out in 2023, a 68 percent increase over the inaugural year of the program. Veggies to Go addresses nutrition and food insecurity in urban and rural communities across New York State.