Giving Back to Our Communities

Fidelis Care Presents Brady Market with $5,000 Food Insecurity Grant

In observance of National Nutrition Month, Fidelis Care presented a $5,000 grant to support Brady Market’s programs to combat food insecurity in the Syracuse region. The grant is part of $315,000 in donations by Fidelis Care to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of fighting hunger across New York State. Food insecurity impacts about one in 10 New York households.

“Nutrition is healthcare,” said Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Director Shannon Lombardo. “Fidelis Care is committed to promoting health and well-being in Syracuse and communities across New York State. That begins by partnering with organizations like Brady Market to help families and individuals gain access to healthy, nutritious foods.”

Brady Market in Syracuse, operated by not-for-profit Brady Social Enterprises, Inc., is a grocery store with retail and wholesale operations, deli and catering, job training, and wraparound support services. It was inspired by the 70-plus year history of Brady Faith Center’s engagement with generations of individuals and families in some of the community’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

“Brady Market is very grateful for this Fidelis Care grant,” said Brady Faith Center Director Kevin Frank. “We absolutely can’t do what we do without wonderful partners. For many who live in the community, Brady Market is the only place to get fresh fruits and vegetables. We plan to use the Fidelis Care funding to take the lead in collaborating with 20 neighborhood organizations to deliver meals for 220 families. One of the wonderful things about this program is that our partner organizations know who needs food support the most. It’s just one of the ways that we are more than a market in this community.”

Lombardo added, “We know that one meal is not going to solve a family’s food insecurity, but these grants give us an opportunity to connect people with agencies and organizations like Brady Market to help them find the resources they need for long-term solutions.”

Fidelis Care takes pride in supporting the vital work of Brady Market and the other food insecurity grant recipients across New York State because no one should suffer from hunger. Click here to see the full list of Fidelis Care food insecurity grant recipient organizations.

Screener Program Provides Support to Families Impacted by Social Determinants of Health

SDoH-chart

Fidelis Care’s innovative SDoH screener program was launched two years ago as a grassroots health equity initiative to address conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work, and play that affect their health, well-being, and quality of life. Social Determinants of Health can affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes – particularly among vulnerable populations and in underserved areas.

The screener enables trained Fidelis Care representatives to assess an individual’s immediate needs and challenges related to SDoH through a brief series of questions covering areas such as access to transportation, food, and secure and safe housing. More than 450,000 Fidelis Care members have participated to date.

Click here to learn more about the different Social Determinants of Health and find available resources.

Learn how Fidelis Care impacts the communities we are privileged to serve.

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Asian American and Native Hawiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Improving Health Literacy

5/8/2024 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, In The Community

This Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Fidelis Care celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, especially in the healthcare field. Fidelis Care talked with Buffalo Medical Care physician, Dr. Fahim Tazwar, about his experience and how he works to improve health literacy and outcomes within this community.

Fidelis Care: What does it mean to you to be an Asian American provider?

Dr. Tazwar: It is a privilege to be an Asian American physician and have the opportunity to serve my community. Being fluent in Bengali and Hindi, I can communicate with patients more effectively in their native language and connect with them on a deeper level. I also understand my patients’ cultural beliefs and practices that may influence their behavior, preference, and ultimately their compliance. This allows me to bridge the language barrier, ensuring that my patient fully understands their conditions and my detailed instructions. As a result, my patients highly appreciate my services, which is a great honor.

Fidelis Care: What are your thoughts on health literacy within the Asian American community?

Dr. Tazwar: I believe that the Asian American community faces many barriers. The language barrier is a major concern. This alone prevents many from getting essential medical care, understanding the issues regarding their health, and ways to improve the outcome. The socioeconomic factor is another barrier the Asian American community deals with. Many suffer from low income and substandard education, which can affect their health literacy. Let’s not forget the cultural belief that also hinders getting necessary care on time. These barriers can become less of an issue if we work together by providing translated health materials, offering interpreter services, increasing access to resources, and providing culturally sensitive care. Limited health insurance coverage is another issue. Thankfully, Fidelis Care has employed multilingual representatives to help the local community address this issue. We are grateful to Fidelis Care Sales and Marketing Supervisor Md Karim and his team for their dedication and work in closing the gap in insurance coverage.

Fidelis Care: How has your role as a physician and leader changed the Asian American community? How do you give back?

Dr. Tazwar: I have been working as a physician with the Asian American community since 2012, first in New York City and now in Buffalo. Being one of few Bengali-speaking physicians in the Greater Buffalo region, I have been tirelessly providing medical care to underserved, underprivileged Asian American patients. A strong believer in ‘prevention is better than cure,’ I have been trying to positively impact the local communities through outreach. The focus is to educate people and improve health literacy. If the general population learns part of what medical professionals know, then it would be easy to reduce the prevalence of many chronic diseases that our community is facing. With that vision in mind, I have been actively participating in community events, giving presentations, and writing articles. I work closely with local health officials to address disparities affecting Asian Americans, advocating for improved healthcare access. One of my greatest achievements is to be a part of the Buffalo Bangla newspaper, printed in the Bengali language, bringing authentic news including health-related issues to the Buffalo Bangladeshi community.

Fidelis Care: What is your favorite cultural tradition?

Dr. Tazwar: There are many. One of my favorites is breaking a monthlong fast by celebrating Eid al-Fitr with friends and family and exchanging gifts, engaging in social events, reconciling differences, sharing meals, and giving in charity to help others. I also enjoy the communal bonding. Eid celebrations bring together family, friends, and communities in joyous gatherings.

Fahim Tazwar, MD, MPH, DABOM, is the Managing Director of Buffalo Medical Care, a leading primary care clinic serving the underserved population in Buffalo. He was previously affiliated with Erie County Medical Center and Batavia Internal Medicine Clinic. He is a family medicine specialist and has over 12 years of experience in the medical field. He holds a master's degree in Public Health, a Doctor of Medicine degree, and a Diplomate of American Board of Obesity Medicine.