Message from the President and CEO, Cass Isidro
The Amputee Coalition’s vision is a world where our community thrives with equity and inclusion. We do this work through intentional partnership and strong leadership and our Board of Directors serves as the leaders to continue our work that leads the entire organization. Advocating for equity is a space where we continue to find alignment and our board leadership is no exception. Our board member Dr. Foluso Fakorede outlines that his practice has a reduction of amputations by 88% over a period of 4 ½ years. He is a Cardiovascular Interventionalist and CEO of Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi with a core value to fighting against clinical injustices affecting underserved communities. After his mission-driven move to the Mississippi Delta, one of the poorest areas in the country, dedicated to saving limbs and saving lives, his impact has been undeniable in his goal of ceasing preventable surgeries and amputations resulting from diabetes, and nicotine use. His clinic is humanizing what CBS News titled: Doctor works to end amputation epidemic among Black Americans in Mississippi; NBC News Outlined His Work: Doctor on a mission to stop preventable amputations in diabetic Black Americans; Cath Lab Digest calls the Mississippi Delta Miracle: Angiographic Screening Yields Dramatic Reduction in Amputations; ProPublica titled: The Black American Amputation Epidemic; Endovascular TODAY elevated the conversation: Addressing Amputation Disparities; and many other platforms that have helped highlight a devastating occurrence most prevalent in the rural southeast which is three to four times the national average.
As one of the newest Amputee Coalition Board Members, Dr. Foluso Fakorede brings a critical perspective to the leadership team. He is the heartbeat, drive, and passion behind Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi with a mission to educate and provide access to quality health care to all. With the belief that every person should be afforded the right to safe, accessible, timely, compassionate care, and affordable treatment with equitable outcomes. His clinic is addressing Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) which is the most debilitating disease many people haven’t heard of yet but according to the resources that can be found at PADPulse.org only 25-30% of Americans have ever heard of PAD, 1 in 20 adults over 50 have PAD; over 12 million people in the U.S. suffer from PAD, and 400 amputations happen every day due to PAD. PAD is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations, making early diagnosis and treatment critically important. The disturbing variations in PAD prevalence, treatments, and outcomes underscore another dangerous consequence of the health equity gap in managing chronic cardiovascular conditions within our healthcare system.
Much like the race and ethnicity disparities in limb loss, we know that more than 5.6 million people in the U.S. live with limb loss and limb difference, and black Americans are much less likely than white Americans to receive guideline-directed medical therapy or undergo procedures that can prevent amputation, known as limb salvage. They are FOUR TIMES more likely to experience amputation for any reason than white Americans, and nearly TWO TIMES more likely to experience diabetes-related amputations. Latino Americans are ONE-and-a-HALF times more likely to experience amputation for any reason than White Americans, and 30% more likely to experience a major amputation related to a diabetic foot infection than white Americans. Indigenous Americans are up to 70% more likely to experience amputation for any reason than insured, non-Indigenous adult Americans. Indigenous Americans are TWO TO THREE times more likely to experience a major amputation related to a Diabetic Foot Infection than white Americans.
Dr. Fakorede joins the Amputee Coalition Board of Director leadership team with a depth of expertise and passion that is fueling his work to serve thousands of patients since his life-changing decision to move to the Mississippi Delta to address a national issue. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Fakorede has pursued policy goals to bridge the gaps in awareness, access, treatments, and outcomes in healthcare – a legacy built on that of the civil rights movement. Addressing the amputation epidemic through community engagement, educational awareness campaigns, and policy reforms – such as improving access to preventative care, ensuring equitable treatment for all patients, and raising awareness about PAD and its deadly consequences – is a necessary step to achieving health equity. Awareness like a core of our Amputee Coalition services is key as we understand these disparities happening in the communities that we serve.
“Joining the Amputee Coalition Board of Directors is a natural partnership as our missions cross a critical need for awareness for prevention, intentional focus for a significant decrease in amputations, support for those who journey through an amputation and their aftercare and living with limb loss and limb difference. We are here to be a voice to the voiceless. “- Dr. Foluso Fakorede, Amputee Coalition Board Member
Dr. Fakorede was honored by the Association of Black Cardiologists with the prestigious Public Policy Award at the 15th Annual Spirit of the Heart Awards Dinner and Policy Summit September 12-14, 2024. September serves as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month and one that is uniquely close to the limb loss and limb difference community as approximately 12 million Americans and 200 million people worldwide are affected by PAD. In 2023, Dr. Fakorede was awarded The American Heart Association’s Louis B Russell Jr. Memorial Award for outstanding service to under-resourced communities as well as previously being named The National Medical Association Physician of the Year in 2022.
For Amputee Coalition resources, and support, and to become involved with the limb loss and limb difference community please visit www.amputee-coalition.org and we encourage you to stay connected on all our AC social media platforms Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also create a profile and join AC Connect the premier online community for connecting the limb loss and limb difference community.