Latest news with #LIFEProgram
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Inspira Health Appoints Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of LIFE Program
VINELAND, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inspira Health today announced the appointment of Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of Inspira Living Independently for Elders (LIFE), effective May 5. Dr. Patel brings more than a decade of experience in caring for the elderly in various settings, including acute care, post-acute care, nursing home, and the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Dr. Patel has developed an expertise in innovative approaches to advancing quality of life while improving overall patient satisfaction and optimizing health care costs and efficiencies. Most recently, Dr. Patel served as Chief Medical Officer at GrayHawk Health, where he drove positive patient health outcomes, and improved overall patient satisfaction and health care costs by ensuring the right care is delivered at the right time in the most effective care settings. 'We are proud to announce Dr. Patel's appointment to Inspira Health,' said April M. Venable, MBA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Operations Strategy and Transformation at Inspira Health. 'Inspira LIFE's primary mission is to support seniors living independently in their communities, and Dr. Patel will bring tremendous insight and passion to further drive this mission. I am confident that he will make a lasting, invaluable impact on our patients, staff, and community through this critical role.' As President of LIFE, Dr. Patel will leverage his experience to deliver high-quality, comprehensive health services to LIFE participants by ensuring clinical, operational, and financial excellence. Notably, Dr. Patel previously served as Medical Director for LIFE at Inspira and was instrumental in shaping the LIFE Program in its earlier years. 'I am beyond thrilled to lead Inspira LIFE's mission to deliver integrated, person-centered care that meets the needs of seniors in our community,' said Dr. Patel. 'Throughout my career, I've developed a deep commitment and passion to empower our aging populations to live healthy, independent lives, and I'm looking forward to bringing that to the Inspira community.' Through his new role, Dr. Patel is positioned to drive innovation, foster employee engagement, and build community and industry partnerships for the program. Dr. Patel earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from North Gujarat University in India. He holds a medical degree from St. James School of Medicine in Netherlands, Antilles, and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts. Furthermore, he completed his family medicine residency at University of Alabama, Huntsville and geriatric fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Dr. Patel is the international bestselling author of Age Is Just a Number: A Geriatrician's Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Life. About Inspira Health Inspira Health is a charitable nonprofit health care organization committed to providing an exceptional experience for patients and their loved ones. Tracing its roots to 1899, the system comprises four hospitals, two comprehensive cancer centers, nine multi-specialty health centers and locations throughout South Jersey. Inspira's surgical teams provide a wide array of innovative robotic and minimally invasive surgeries, including nationally accredited bariatric services at Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill and Vineland. In partnership with Cooper University Health Care, Inspira provides comprehensive neuroscience and cardiology services throughout the region. Inspira's extensive ambulatory services include urgent care; ambulatory surgery centers; physical and occupational therapy; comprehensive behavioral health; primary and specialty physician practices; and extensive outpatient imaging in partnership with Atlantic Medical Imaging (AMI). Inspira EMS covers communities throughout South Jersey. Inspira's Population Health and Community Impact Departments address social drivers of health that impact individuals and families in our region. Inspira's more than 1,400 physicians and advanced practice providers, and 8,000 employees, provide evidence-based care to help each patient achieve the best possible outcome. As a regional leader in physician training, Inspira Health educates and provides extensive clinical opportunities for more than 280 medical residents and fellows in 16 nationally accredited by DNV Healthcare and committed to the principles of high reliability, Inspira Health is focused on clinical excellence and patient safety. For more information about Inspira Health, visit or call 1-800-INSPIRA.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts thrilled as critically endangered species resurfaces after years in hiding: 'Proven to be very effective'
Europe's most endangered ducks are back on track. According to the European Commission, the Spanish Marbled ducks' population has more than quadrupled since 2009, going from a mere 20 breeding pairs to 131. It wouldn't have been possible without the European Union's LIFE Program. Founded in 1992, LIFE supports and funds environmental projects. LIFE Cerceta Pardilla, a program dedicated to reviving the Marbled duck, bought and used three protected plots of land to boost their population. The lands had over 140 hectares (346 acres) of wetlands, where Marbled ducks breed. Because of this project, "nearly 3 000 captive-bred Marbled ducks have been released into the wild and 13 Land Stewardship agreements have been signed with local land owners," per the Commission. Land stewardship agreements are a vital part of Spanish conservation efforts. They involve collaboration between the government and landowners, who agree to help conserve endangered species. It is this strategy that has "proven to be very effective in species and habitat conservation projects," the Commission reported. With how much conservation impacts human life, it's no wonder that landowners want to play their part. You see, conservation preserves biodiversity, which the World Wildlife Fund defines as "all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area … that make up our natural world." Each creature has its part to play. The Marbled duck, for example, disperses seeds, keeping aquatic plants alive and thriving. If one species becomes endangered or goes extinct, it can throw the whole ecosystem off-balance. When that happens, precious natural resources like water, medicine, and shelter can become scarce. So, increasing the number of Marbled ducks can be helpful for humans in the long run. The same method was employed in Massachusetts, where landowners willingly allowed hundreds of acres to be protected for conservation purposes. A Canadian couple also donated 54 acres to a conservancy trust, ensuring the survival of over 10,000 native trees. As for Spain, LIFE Cerceta Pardilla aimed to reach 15 land agreements by the end of 2025. In January, it had already reached 11. Should the U.S. government ban all products tested on animals? Absolutely No way Only certain kinds of products Let each state decide Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "LIFE Cerceta Pardilla will conserve not only one of the most emblematic ducks in Spain," project coordinator Yolanda Cortés told the Commission, "but also wetlands, which are one of the most important ecosystems in the fight against climate change." On social media, people had nothing but praise for the program's efforts. A Facebook commenter said, "A very worthwhile project and good early results!" Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
