BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation Awards Grant to Microclinic International to Launch Microclinic Program Training Hosted by UT Extension

(October 26, 2015) – Microclinic International (MCI), the nonprofit organization that developed the Microclinic Program for healthy living and chronic disease prevention, has been awarded a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to bring the program to East Tennessee. Hosted by UT Extension, a two-day Microclinic Program Facilitator Training will be held in Knoxville, TN on November 9th and 10th, 2015. The training will be open to all UT Extension agents in the Eastern Region and to other community organization representatives in rural East Tennessee that are interested in offering the healthy living and chronic disease prevention program to their communities.

The Microclinic Program is a healthy lifestyle program that empowers small groups of friends and family, or “microclinics”, to take control over their own health to prevent and manage chronic disease. By engaging in fun and interactive activities such as learning how to decipher nutrition labels at the grocery store, participating in group fitness activities, competing in fun, but informative learning games, and encouraging other microclinic members to reach their health goals, the participants make sustainable lifestyle changes that help them manage and prevent chronic disease. “We are thrilled that now individuals in Tennessee have access to this life-saving program,” said Leslie Lang Senior Vice President of Microclinic International. “For many people, it helps create a new lease on life.”

The Microclinic Program is unique among health education programs because it is built upon the following philosophy: “I can influence my own health; I can influence the health of others; together we can positively influence the health of the entire community”. This philosophy of “contagious health” and community support is the key ingredient of the Microclinic Program that has resulted in health improvements in 95% of participants that completed the program, as measured by weight loss, cholesterol, blood sugar or blood pressure in a clinical trial.

“After the successes of piloting and growing the Microclinic Program in communities around the world and in neighboring Kentucky, Microclinic International is excited to bring the Microclinic Program to East Tennessee,” said Dr. Daniel Zoughbie, MCI’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Through the Microclinic Program, the culture of health will transform in East Tennessee – one individual, one family, one community at a time.”
If your community organization is interested in enrolling in the free Microclinic Program Facilitator Training to take advantage of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation sponsored opportunity, please email leslielang@microclinics.org.

About Microclinic International
Microclinic International (MCI) is a nonprofit organization seeking to revolutionize how deadly diseases are prevented and managed worldwide. Building on cutting-edge epidemiological evidence suggesting that healthy behaviors are transmittable across social networks, the microclinic strategy of “contagious health” leverages human relationships to address diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and HIV/AIDS. MCI has established Microclinic Programs in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and North America. For more information, please visit www.microclinics.org.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc. (THF) was established in December, 2003 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. THF awards grants focused on high-impact initiatives across the state, which promote healthy lifestyle choices and help control health care costs for all Tennessee residents. Working with civic and economic partners, THF is dedicated to the support of research, innovative programs and creative approaches to improve the health and quality of life of Tennesseans for generations to come.

About UT Extension
UT Extension is the outreach unit of the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture. UT Extension has an office in every county in Tennessee and offers programs in four areas – Family & Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Community Economic Development. Our Family and Consumer Science professionals use research-based education to help Tennesseans gain knowledge and develop confidence in making good decisions today and tomorrow. We are committed to offering Real. Life. Solutions.

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