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Dr. Lee Rogers diabetes expert and U.S. Congressional candidate speaks at Barry University

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Gladys Amador

305-899-4919

Miami Shores, Fla. – The cost of diabetes in the United States is predicted to increase 270 percent by 2030, amputations and ulcers make up more than $30 billion a year, spurring Dr. Lee Rogers, the co-director of the Amputation Prevention Center at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, to launch a congressional campaign and bring his experience in providing excellent care with limited resources to Congress.

Vying for a seat in California’s 25th Congressional District, Rogers hopes to drive health care reform, reduce costs, and bring informed “common sense” to the health care debate. This week, during a campaign visit to Florida, Rogers spoke to more than 50 podiatric medical students at the Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine. Rogers discussed his views on medicine in the future, on preparing for graduate podiatric medical education, and how podiatric physicians can play a leading role in chronic illness prevention, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

“With the exploding rate of diabetes and the aging of the baby boomers, podiatric physicians are the primary providers of diabetic amputation prevention care now and in the future,” said Rogers. There are currently more than 200 attorneys holding office in the U.S. House of Representatives and only 18 seats are held by physicians.  Roger wants to change that number to help better represent the field of medicine within the health care debate. He will be running against nine term incumbent, Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon.

“The current diabetes pandemic with nearly one third of the U.S. population having diabetes or pre-diabetes provides a platform for showing people why podiatrists are the preeminent experts in preventing these costly complications,” said Rogers. “Podiatric physicians are really good at preventing amputations and keeping patients active, facts that have been documented consistently in various studies including, Thompson Reuters and Duke University studies.” 

Rogers, whose Amputation Prevention Center boasts a 96 percent limb salvage rate, regularly provides care for those who are uninsured and underinsured which he states is a growing problem in the U.S.  Rogers received the Rising Star Award from the American Podiatric Medical Association in March 2011 and has authored more than 100 research articles as well as several books relating to diabetes and lower limb preservation. He is the past chair of the Foot Care Council of the American Council of the American Diabetes Association. He was also named one of the country’s most influential podiatrists by Podiatry Management Magazine.

During his speech, Rogers advised students at Barry to work hard in their senior year establishing their career tract.  This, according to Rogers, will lead them to quality residency positions and enable them to be successful in their future careers encouraging students to: “search out where you can make a difference and then go there and make a difference.”

“We are very fortunate to have had Dr. Rogers on campus to speak to us about the important role podiatric physicians play on the health care team in diabetes amputation prevention,” said Dr. Jeffrey Jensen, dean and professor of podiatric medicine & surgery at Barry’s School of Podiatric Medicine. “He will be a strong advocate for patients in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as for the podiatric physicians.”

For more information about Dr. Lee Rogers’ campaign for Congress, visit www.leerogers2012.com

Barry University is a private, Catholic institution with a history of academic excellence in the Adrian Dominican tradition. Founded in 1940 in Miami, Florida, the University enrolls nearly 9,000 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its nine academic schools and colleges, including Adult & Continuing Education, Business, Education, Human Performance & Leisure Science, Law, Podiatric Medicine, Social Work, Arts & Sciences, and Health Sciences.