The World Health Organization Collaborating Center, International Diabetes Center, and Mayo Clinic of Minneapolis, MN, have named Phil Southerland as the new Director of Health Care Policy, Planning and Patient Advocacy.
Southerland, 29, is the CEO of Team Type 1 and a known advocate for global diabetes awareness.
Southerland’s new job as the Director will include providing support for the Center’s five-year collaborative effort with the Chinese Ministry of Health to promote diabetes self-care with programs sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Southerland will work to eliminate discrimination against children and young adults with Type 1 diabetes in China. Southerland will also help with similar programs in the Middle East, the Asia Pacific region and in Latin America. The goal of Southerland’s efforts will be to show that those with diabetes can be healthy and productive so long as they receive adequate medical care for their conditions.
Dr. Roger Mazze, Head of the WHO Collaborating Center, IDC and Mayo Clinic, believes that Southerland is more than qualified for the job. “Due to Phil’s extraordinary experience in working with governments around the world and influencing policy to provide the necessary services and supplies for children with diabetes, we felt it was important to have him work with us on this significant undertaking in China. He will assist our efforts around the world to improve patient self-care and help governments align their policies to ensure people with diabetes enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all individuals within their countries.”
Southerland was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes himself at only seven months of age. He founded Team Type 1 in 2005 to aid diabetics in taking an active role in the management of their disease by sponsoring a bicycling team to promote the group. Despite Southerland’s young age, Team Type 1 has become a global initiative, making a difference in the lives of countless diabetics across the world. Team Type 1 now features a highly competitive athletics program, sponsoring over 100 athletes from 11 countries in addition to its philanthropic efforts throughout the world, which includes work in developing countries and a sports research wing focused on diabetics.
“Every day, our athletes are proving that with proper care and access to insulin and supplies, anything is possible with diabetes,” said Southerland of Team Type 1’s success. “Every child in the world should have the opportunity to live a full, healthy life, free from the discrimination that often accompanies a diagnosis. I’m honored to be able to assist the World Health Organization in its global mission to make that a reality.”
The World Health Organization funds over 800 collaborating centers around the world that perform activities and events in support of the WHO. The International Diabetes Center and Mayo Clinic was featured as a collaborating center in 1986 for its work in diabetes education as well as in information technology and translation. It is one of only two diabetes centers designated by the WHO in the United States; 32 such centers have been designated worldwide.