Community Engagement Initiatives

Advancing Health Equity

Our community engagement initiatives are at the heart of our mission, addressing health disparities and improving vascular health outcomes in underserved populations. Through the support of our partners and donors, we're making strides in preventing death and disability from vascular diseases.

Health Equity: For Patients, With Patients

East Bay Project: Data-Driven Amputation Prevention

Goal: To provide peripheral artery disease screenings to high-risk populations in the East Bay, California, and develop a scalable model for collaborative, community-based and data-focused solutions for amputation prevention to address vascular health disparities 

Activities:

  • Community-focused education and empowerment

  • Critical data analysis for actionable change

  • Research to address barriers to healthcare access 

Impact: Increase health literacy, improve access to vascular screening, and manage disease in medically underserved communities.

PAD Facebook Project: Empowering Patients Online

Goal: Amplify PAD education and awareness efforts through social media engagement, patient-reported challenges, and technology-focused solutions.

Activities:

  • Engage with the Peripheral Artery Disease-PAD/Walking/Exercise Regimen Support Group on Facebook

  • Develop and disseminate new materials targeting educational gaps

  • Leverage technologies focused on behavioral changes developed at Stanford and UCSF

Impact: Engage 2,500+ patients and caregivers, fostering a community of support and information sharing.

Chinese-Speaking Vascular Patient Engagement

Goal: Identify and address barriers to engaging in research among Chinese-speaking patients, enhancing participation in vascular health research.

Activities:

  • Host virtual meetings to co-learn with patients about research participation and their needs/preferences

  • Develop and disseminate materials in Chinese, with no English knowledge required

  • Scale learnings and tools to similarly situated communities

Impact: Engage Chinese-speaking patients in research, creating tailored resources to improve treatment and care which can be adapted to other underserved groups.

Atlanta Project: Scaling Evidence-Based Outreach

Goal: Scale an evidence-based PAD outreach model to underserved populations in Atlanta, addressing health disparities through education, increased screening and patient and caregiver support.

Activities:

  • Data collection and analysis to understand community needs

  • Increase PAD screening and risk factor knowledge through robust community partnerships

  • Provide education and support to patients and caregivers

Impact: Aim to engage 250 participants, improving PAD awareness, screening, and preventing lower extremity amputations.

Community-Based Microgrants: Empowering Local Action on Vascular Disease

Goal: To empower small nonprofits and community groups with the resources to conduct grassroots educational initiatives. Our microgrants aim to enhance community awareness and understanding of vascular health, addressing a critical need for education on vascular conditions outside of the heart.

Activities:

  • Grant Provision: Offering microgrants ranging from $1500 to $1800 to support innovative community projects focused on vascular disease prevention and education.

  • Application Process: Open to small nonprofit organizations, student-led groups, and educational clubs across the United States with projects rooted in their local communities.

  • Community Empowerment: Encouraging applications that propose novel and meaningful ways to fill gaps, including grassroots coalition-building, wellness education, and patient self-advocacy initiatives.

Impact:

The Community-Based Microgrants initiative is designed to:

  • Impact vascular health community awareness and disease prevention strategies

  • Foster a network of local leaders and organizations dedicated to vascular health

  • Measure the success of funded projects through their ability to meet the needs of specific communities and enhance patient and caregiver empowerment in managing vascular health.

Example Projects of Interest:

We're looking to support projects that can make a significant impact on community health, such as:

  • Nutrition and Wellness Education: Programs tailored to address diet and exercise as preventative measures.

  • Culturally-Appropriate Educational Approaches: Initiatives designed to resonate with and effectively reach specific community groups.

  • Diabetes and PAD Awareness: Initiatives aimed at high-risk communities which highlight the connection between diabetes and PAD.

How to Apply:

Applications for Community-Based Microgrants are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligible organizations and groups are invited to submit proposals that align with our mission to advance patient-centered research and catalyze innovative collaborations for vascular health. For detailed application guidelines and to submit your proposal, visit our website or contact us directly at info@vascularcures.org.

How You Can Support This Work

Your support is crucial in advancing these initiatives. Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to partner with us or a donor wishing to contribute to the cause, your involvement can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by vascular diseases. Learn how you can join us in this vital work.

Interested in supporting our community engagement initiatives? Here's how you can help:

  • Donate: Your donations directly support our projects, helping us to reach more communities and make a greater impact.

  • Partner with Us: We're always looking for partners who share our vision of improving vascular health through community engagement and research.

  • Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness by sharing information about our projects with your network.

For more information on our projects or to get involved, please contact us at info@vascularcures.org.