BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MDVIP, the leader in personalized healthcare with a nationwide network of more than 750 physicians, announced the start of a new foundation that will support initiatives in healthcare, education and global outreach. The MDVIP Foundation will capitalize on community partnerships and its physicians to encourage healthy habits, promote disease prevention and mentor future physicians. As its first initiative, the foundation is tackling childhood obesity. The launch of the foundation coincides with National School Lunch Week (October 13-17), which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of providing school cafeterias with healthy lunch options with Whole Kids Foundation support.
“With the MDVIP Foundation, we’re teaching kids about healthy eating, helping people in times of crisis and supporting our next generation of doctors. This builds upon the long-standing objective of MDVIP to raise public awareness of health, wellness and the value of prevention,” said Bret Jorgensen, Chairman of the MDVIP Foundation. “Along with our network of physicians, we’re investing in proven solutions, building a platform for community involvement, and activating real change to confront the challenges facing people at home and abroad.”
The MDVIP Foundation’s commitment to healthy living begins with three objectives:
Childhood Obesity – Working with Whole Kids Foundation to Raise Awareness of Healthy Eating For School-Age Children. Obesity is at epidemic proportions with reports saying that for the first time in America, children may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. The need for intervention is critical. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that kids with access to a salad bar consume three times more fruits and vegetables. In conjunction with Whole Kids Foundation founded in partnership with Whole Foods Market, Inc., MDVIP Foundation is funding salad bars in public schools in Detroit, MI; Dallas, TX; San Diego, CA; and Savannah, GA.
“We’re proud to partner with Whole Kids Foundation to bring these salad bars to schools in need,” said Mr. Jorgensen. “Not only are we helping kids avoid preventable illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and childhood obesity, we’re empowering them to make healthy choices.”
Doctors in Response - Organizing medical treatment to respond quickly, provide relief and help improve the lives of those in need. Doctors in Response is comprised of primary care physicians able to respond rapidly during domestic and international crises. It also can staff health and immunization clinics in underserved areas, delivering the medical care, supplies and resources necessary to rebuild communities and lives.
Primary Care Mentorship Program - Increasing the number of future primary care physicians in the U.S.
The number of medical students planning to specialize in primary care has decreased at an alarming rate. The MDVIP Foundation seeks to encourage more doctors-in training to embrace careers in primary care. MDVIP-affiliated physicians, many of which are exceptional internists and family practitioners, hospital chiefs of staff, academic professors from highly regarded medical schools, recognized by Alpha Omega Alpha and voted Best Doctors and Top Doctors in their communities by their peers, will connect with medical students and offer mentorship. Through the efforts of the MDVIP Foundation, medical students of today will become the most passionate primary care doctors of tomorrow.
For more information, please go to: http://www.mdvipfoundation.org.
--Bret Jorgensen, Chairman of the MDVIP Foundation is available for interview--
About MDVIP, Inc.
MDVIP, Inc. is the national leader in affordable personalized healthcare. With prevention at the center of its program, MDVIP has proven that its carefully chosen affiliated physicians provide exceptional care and achieve exceptional outcomes. Published results include lower hospitalization rates which yield significant cost savings to patients, employers and the healthcare system. MDVIP-affiliated physicians limit their practices to no more than 600 patients in order to provide a customized wellness and preventive care program. There are currently over 750 MDVIP-affiliated physicians in the network throughout the country. MDVIP, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, visit www.MDVIP.com.
The MDVIP Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations made to the MDVIP Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
About Whole Kids Foundation
Whole Kids Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded by Whole Foods Market and guided by the same values, principles, expertise and standards. Our mission is to improve children's health and wellness through nutrition. We seek to accomplish this by supporting schools, through our School Garden Grant, Salad Bar Grant and Healthy Teachers Nutrition Education programs, and by inspiring families through our informative and interactive online resources. To learn more, visit us at www.wholekidsfoundation.org.
