Blue circle health written in dark blue and orange with circle logo

Showing Up for People with Type 1 Diabetes in New Ways

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.  

The Idea

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.

Our Philosophy

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.

Growing to Serve People With T1D Nationwide

We are currently serving people 18 years or older living with T1D in the state of Florida. We are working hard to offer our services in other states as soon as possible. 

If you live in Florida and would like to enroll, click here

If you are interested in keeping up with our progress, lessons learned, and expansion plans, click here to subscribe to updates. 

Blue Circle Health
Leadership and Providers

Leonard D’Avolio, PhD 

Robin Jensen

Linda Pilla, Esq.

Ben Thomas

Megan Buhler

Paige Gallo, CPA

Monica Gomberg, MD

Lillie Hughes

Thien Nguyen

Magdi Odeh

Eleni Sheehan, MA, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Interested in Helping to Build the Healthcare Model People With Type 1 Diabetes Deserve?

We’re seeking mission-driven professionals to help us make this a reality.

Blue Circle Health

Board of Directors 

Gina Agiostratidou, PhD, MBA

Bruce Braughton, MBA

Scott D Kahn, PhD

David Panzirer (Observer)

Blue Circle Health

Advisors

Michael Haller, MD

Michael A. Harris, PhD

Sean Oser, MD, MPH

Tamara Oser, MD

Rona Sonabend, MD

Sarah Westen, PhD

About Us

Showing Up for People with Type 1 Diabetes in New Ways

Who We Are

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 

Who We Serve

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.

What We Do

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.

Our Why

Thriving in the face of type 1 diabetes is challenging even under the best circumstancesThe barriers to care faced by those living in under-resourced communities make it even harderOur goal is to make the healthcare journey easier for the people we serve by providing compassionate, culturally appropriate, whole-person diabetes care. 

What Makes Us Different

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. 

Blue Circle Health Team

Interested in Helping to Build the Healthcare Model People With Type 1 Diabetes Deserve?

We’re seeking mission-driven professionals to help us make this a reality.

Blue Circle Health

Faculty

Michael A. Harris, PhD

Professor, Pediatrics; Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Director, Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) – Oregon Health & Science University

Sean Oser, MD, MPH

Diabetes Researcher and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine – University of Colorado School of Medicine

Sarah Westen, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor & Director, Diabetes Behavioral Medicine and Psychology, University of Florida