Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University are working together on a program to bring stroke prevention care to Philadelphia’s most underserved communities.

The Frazier Family Coalition for Stroke Education and Prevention—backed by a $5 million gift by Andréa and Ken Frazier—creates a partnership between Temple and Jefferson universities and their health systems to investigate social determinants of health and the race-ethnic disparities that lead to poor health and an increased risk of stroke. 

The program will focus specifically on the neighborhoods around 18th and York streets, also known as Allegheny West, which ranked almost last among Philadelphia neighborhoods for health outcomes.

Stroke is the fourth-highest cause of death in Philadelphia and strokes in the city occur at a rate 20 times the national average. Due to several causes—including a lack of awareness of risk factors, unmanaged chronic disease and difficulty accessing healthcare providers—the rate of stroke is highest among underserved members of the African American community. Research has shown nearly 80% of strokes are preventable.  

The Frazier Coalition aims to build an integrated health education and community navigation program that links at-risk community members with the resources, information and clinical care they need to prevent strokes, as well as connect patients who have suffered a stroke with the services they need to prevent another. 

“It is critical that our health systems address the disparities that impact underserved communities. Stroke disproportionately affects disadvantaged African American community members, and combined with poor access to education and healthcare, results in significantly poorer health outcomes,” Andréa and Ken Frazier said in a joint statement. 

“Our family has deep roots in North Philadelphia and has been impacted by the debilitating effects of stroke. We feel privileged to be in a position to help convene this partnership to bring life-saving stroke prevention measures to our community.”

The program will include the Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience at Jefferson, the Jefferson Center for Urban Health and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple. 

“Providing high-quality healthcare to this region’s underserved communities has been a hallmark of Temple University for more than a century. Andréa and Ken Frazier’s gift allows Temple and Jefferson to extend our reach and expand the care options to prevent and care for those dealing with strokes,” said Richard M. Englert, president of Temple University. 

“I want to thank Andréa and Ken for their generosity and their continuing concern for improving healthcare options in this region.”

—Edirin Oputu