Dr. Leonard R. Sanders Named a VIP Member of Worldwide Who's Who for Excellence in Internal Medicine and Diabetes Treatment Services

    SACATON, AZ, August 13, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Leonard R. Sanders, the Director of Diabetes Care and Dialysis Services for the Diabetes Care and Dialysis department of Gila River Health Care, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in internal medicine, endocrinology, diabetes education and dialysis treatment services among other disciplines.

Dr. Sanders has had a 40-year career in patient care, teaching, research, and administration. He is formally trained in internal medicine, endocrinology, metabolism, diabetes, nephrology, and hypertension. He is also board certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes, nephrology, hypertension and diabetes education. He is distinguished as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, an author of several articles in medical peer-reviewed journals and is the author of four book chapters in Endocrine Secrets on topics of hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia, nephrolithiasis and water metabolism. Currently a certified Diabetes Educator, Dr. Sanders has been formally teaching and motivating diabetic patients to improve their overall health for over 30 years. For the past five years he has worked with the Pima Indians at Gila River Health Care. He has developed a Diabetes Care Program (DCP) at Gila River Health Care that is based on the Chronic Care Model and the Social Determinants of Health, which will help to empower both patients and providers to improve the quality and outcomes of diabetes mellitus.

The core goal of the program is to support the patient and family to be the major managers of their health care. By following the guidelines of his DCP, providers remind patients that they are empowered and impart sufficient knowledge, education and support to enhance patient self-determination and ultimately self-management. Providers then promote cultural sensitivity and take into account patient social determinants of health. Based on the DCP, providers teach the patients about their A1c, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Smoking (ABCS) for diabetes care and support patients to select goals and achievable behavior changes to realistically meet their goals. Dr. Sanders has conducted numerous provider and educator presentations to change the paradigm of diabetes care toward the above DCP approach. The success of Dr. Sanders' DCP has been measured by improving the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 11 patient care parameters to a level that meets the requirement for NCQA certification in Diabetes Care excellence. He is now a popular speaker on the Native American Speaking Circuit for diabetes, education, treatment, and care. His presentations focus on the theme of "Empowering Patients" to improve their ABCS and reduce or prevent Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

Dr. Sanders served on active duty for 20 years and is currently retired from the United States Army. He completed his military career with the rank of Colonel and held positions as Chief, Department of Medicine, Chief of Nephrology, and Chief of Endocrinology at major teaching medical centers including William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center. He also had the distinction of being nominated and interviewed at the White House for assistant physician to the president and White House Physician in 1987. In 1990 he was elected a member of The Order of Military Medical Merit. At the completion of his military career, he was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit Medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service to his country. Proud to have served, he is now putting forth the same commitment to changing the paradigm of diabetes care.


Dr. Sanders has always approached each patient holistically. Instead of just treating an illness, he looks at an individual's overall physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing before recommending treatment. Additionally, he attributes his success to determination, effort, desire, and the belief that he can make a difference. He feels his simple upbringing allows him to explain complex subjects in a way that are more easily understood. It also helps him come up with innovated ideas that others sometimes don't see. Since the seed of medicine was planted in him at an early age, it continued to grow as a means to an end to help other people in the world to relieve pain and suffering and have a better quality of life.

Dr. Sanders obtained his medical doctorate from the University of California San Francisco and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California Davis. He completed his internal residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and an endocrinology and metabolism fellowship at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver. Additionally, he completed a nephrology fellowship at the Brooke Army Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Washington, DC. Dr. Sanders is a member of upwards of 11 professional organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation, Inc., American College of Physicians, American Medical Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

In five years, Dr. Sanders hopes to have made a large and positive impact on improving diabetes care and prevention—establishing a standard of diabetes care excellence for the Native American Community that can be used as an example to the world. He will continue to care for patients and teach innovative ideas for motivating and empowering patients to embrace their Social Determinants of Health for overall health and longevity. Most importantly, when he's not changing the face of diabetes treatment, he will take more time for himself, spiritual activities, and loved ones.

For more information about Gila River Health Care, visit http://www.grhc.org. To see a complete list of Dr. Sanders' qualifications, publications and achievements, visit his Worldwide Who's Who VIP profile at http://www.wwregistry.com/Members/AZ/Leonard-Sanders-1275613.html.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
[email protected]

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