Leonard D’Avolio, PhD
- Chief Executive Officer
Living with type 1 diabetes is challenging even in the best of circumstances. The U.S. healthcare system often creates barriers to accessing the care and supplies needed to manage this complex disease. For people with fewer resources that live with T1D, these barriers are even greater.
In the Fall of 2021, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust brought together a group of T1D experts to answer the question, “What should the healthcare system for people with T1D look like?” This first meeting laid the foundation for what would become Blue Circle Health.
Each person’s experiences and challenges are unique. We believe the care people receive should be based on their specific needs and we work to remove any barriers standing in the way of that care.
Good health care is more than just medical care. It requires help with non-clinical issues as well such as housing, employment, food insecurity, and ongoing education and support related to T1D.
Education and empowerment are key to long term health. Recognizing that T1D is a 24/7 disease, we work with people to ensure they have the skills they need to manage it at all times.
We serve as one part of each person’s care team. Communication of each person’s progress to their primary care doctor, specialists, and support systems is an important part of our approach.
Our care is free. Thanks to the generous funding of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, our care is offered at no cost to the people we serve.
We are currently serving people 18 years or older living with T1D in Florida, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Ohio, Delaware, Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri. We are working hard to offer our services in additional states as soon as possible.
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We’re seeking mission-driven professionals to help us make this a reality.
We are a group of people who believe that everyone deserves excellent, culturally aware healthcare that can help them live longer, healthier lives. Together, we show up in new ways to support those who need it most through Blue Circle Health – a new care delivery model that removes barriers to type 1 diabetes care in under-resourced communities.
We put people first. Helping people with type 1 diabetes, especially those who have barriers getting medical care, reach healthier futures is what we are all about.
We currently support individuals and families in certain Florida communities. We plan to grow to reach people throughout the country.
Blue Circle Health considers every challenge that a person with type 1 diabetes may have. Our “whole person” approach to diabetes care offers all the services that a person with type 1 diabetes needs to live well and thrive – mental health care, insurance support, education, peer coaching, pharmacy and device assistance, connection to community resources, and more – all at no cost to the people we serve.
Our providers and coaches from within the community are there to help people with type 1 diabetes when and how they need.
Thriving in the face of type 1 diabetes is challenging even under the best circumstances. The barriers to care faced by those living in under-resourced communities make it even harder. Our goal is to make the healthcare journey easier for the people we serve by providing compassionate, culturally appropriate, whole-person diabetes care.
Blue Circle Health is funded by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. This means we can focus on helping more people with type 1 diabetes and ensuring they have the care and support they need to successfully manage their diabetes.
APRN, Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Florida
Endocrinologist
We’re seeking mission-driven professionals to help us make this a reality.
Professor and Chief, Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Florida
Professor, Pediatrics; Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Director, Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) – Oregon Health & Science University
Diabetes Researcher and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine – University of Colorado School of Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor & Director, Diabetes Behavioral Medicine and Psychology, University of Florida
