Vituity Cares Foundation to Address Health Inequality

Physician group announces launch of foundation to tackle healthcare disparities from the ground up

EMERYVILLE, Calif. (July 17, 2020) – National physician group Vituity announced the launch of Vituity Cares today, a charitable foundation focused on improving the health of underserved communities in the United States.

As medical and technological advancements in healthcare have brought immeasurable gains to society as a whole, there are disturbing disparities in health and healthcare among individuals due to their race, socioeconomic status, and other discriminatory factors. As an example, Centers for Disease Control data from 2017 show that despite the fact that a lower percentage of Black adults are being diagnosed with heart disease, the death rate from the disease in Black Americans is significantly higher (208 deaths per 100,000 compared to 168.9 deaths per 100,000 in white Americans).

“As clinicians, we know that providing the best medical care in the moment is not enough to ensure true health for underserved communities,” says Imamu Tomlinson, MD, MBA, Vituity Cares President and CEO of Vituity. “Our vision is to eradicate healthcare inequality, healthcare inequity, and address those factors that can contribute to poorer health outcomes.”

A leader in developing front-line solutions for healthcare challenges, Vituity has made a commitment to addressing health disparities beyond traditional healthcare settings through the charitable Vituity Cares Foundation.

The foundation’s efforts will focus on three core areas: building representation in the provider workforce, providing care to vulnerable communities, and developing solutions that address social determinants of health. The foundation will work in and with local communities.

“The under-representation of minorities among healthcare providers is a key factor contributing to health disparities in underserved communities,” says Dr. Theo Koury, Vice President of Vituity Cares. “Without providers and leaders who understand and can advocate for the unique needs of these communities, we will not achieve systemic change.”

A nonprofit, public benefit corporation, Vituity Cares Foundation operates exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is led by an independent Board of Directors.

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About Vituity Cares

Vituity Cares is a charitable foundation dedicated to improving the health of underserved communities. We inspire the underrepresented providers and leaders of tomorrow, caring for the most vulnerable, and addressing the inequality and inequity in healthcare. Learn more at www.vituitycares.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Vituity

For nearly 50 years, Vituity has been a catalyst for positive change in healthcare. As a physician-led and -owned multispecialty partnership, our 4,200 doctors and clinicians care for 6.5 million patients each year across 400 practice locations and nine acute care specialties. Learn about our innovative solutions to healthcare challenges at vituity.com.

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