PITTSBURGH, Pa., Aug. 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of JDRF has named Susan Manzi, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine at Allegheny Health Network, corporate chair of its 2014 Walk to Cure Diabetes event in Pittsburgh.
The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Pittsburgh will take place Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Schenley Park. Its goal is to raise $1.2 million in conjunction with the Westmoreland Walk that takes place on September 27, 2014. Those who would like to support the JDRF or create their own walk team can visit http://www.walk.jdrf.org.
Allegheny Health Network is a Platinum Presenting Partner of this year's Walk. In 2013, the Network helped to raise more than $100,000 for the cause.
A board-certified rheumatologist, Dr. Manzi co-founded and co-directs Allegheny Health Network's Lupus Center of Excellence and has a special interest in autoimmune diseases. As a leader of her field, Dr. Manzi has played an important role in advancing quality, innovation and best practices that have improved the treatment of patients with autoimmune illnesses.
One such new program is promising to change the way diabetes care is managed in western Pennsylvania. In collaboration with the Joslin Diabetes Center at Allegheny Health Network, Dr. Manzi is currently building a network of diabetes specialty centers across the region and training and certifying primary care physicians in the management of the disease.
The program addresses a regional and national shortage of endocrinologists – the doctors who typically treat diabetes - while acknowledging that many diabetic patients can be effectively cared for by their primary care doctor. By providing advanced diabetes care training to primary care physicians and their practices, recruiting certified diabetes educators to work with patients, and providing other ancillary resources, Dr. Manzi and AHN hope to create a network of internal medicine and family practice physicians who are uniquely qualified to care for patients with diabetes.
"Improving access to diabetes care is such a crucial step in promoting overall better health for these patients," Dr. Manzi said. "I'm honored to support the Walk to Cure Diabetes and JDRF's mission to advance treatment options for type 1 diabetes while we push toward a cure."
Each year, more than 30,000 adults and children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the United States. That's approximately 80 people diagnosed per day. Warning signs and symptoms include, but are not limited to: extreme thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, and drowsiness.
There currently is no cure for type 1 diabetes. However, the disease is more manageable today thanks to medical research and programs funded by organizations like JDRF.
JDRF is the global leader in funding for type 1 diabetes research. The organization is currently sponsoring $568 million in scientific research in 17 countries. They collaborate with a wide spectrum of partners, and are the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D.
For more information on the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, please contact Jennifer Zgurich at jzgurich(at)jdrf(dot)org or 412-471-1414 x4. For more information about JDRF, please visit http://www.jdrf.org.
About the Allegheny Health Network:
Allegheny Health Network is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is comprised of eight hospitals, including its flagship academic medical center Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, Canonsburg Hospital, Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital, Westfield Memorial Hospital and West Penn Hospital; the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute; Health + Wellness Pavilions; and a healthcare group purchasing organization. The Network employs approximately 17,000 people, including more than 2,100 physicians on its medical staff. The Network also serves as a clinical campus for both Temple University School of Medicine and Drexel University College of Medicine.
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