Health Empowerment for All
About the PatientPoint Foundation
Taking a stand against health inequity in order to make EVERY person’s health journey better.
Launched in 2022, PatientPoint Foundation works creatively to achieve Health Empowerment for All. We bring a different approach to combating ever-present health disparities and mitigating Social Determinants of Health. We’re pursuing modern, cutting-edge solutions to change the dynamic we see, inspired by the goal of making equitable health journeys possible for all people.
We are a national 501(c)3 public charity that leverages the combined operational expertise of PatientPoint and proven track record of community development professionals. Our mission is to address the gaps and inequities that are having a negative impact on communities across the country, such as:
- 9 out of 10 U.S. adults struggle to understand health information. (CDC)
Improving healthy literacy alone could prevent nearly 1 million hospital visits and save over $25 billion each year. (CDC) - African Americans are more likely to die at early ages from all causes of death. (US Vital Statistics)
42% of African American adults over age 20 suffer from hypertension compared with 28.7% of non-Hispanic white adults. (National Center for Health Statistics) - 1 in 6 Black adults have diabetes – compared to 1 in 10 of their white counterparts. (Healthy Food America)
- Hispanic people have 3 times the rate of uncontrolled diabetes compared to their white counterparts (Healthy Food America)
- If unaddressed, health inequities could account for over $1 trillion in annual spending by 2040. (Deloitte)
A Pandemic. A Launch Partner. A Perfect Window for Change.
The global COVID-19 pandemic of the past few years put health disparities into stark contrast. Anyone watching the stories of the pandemic unfold saw in the data that we have unfair, avoidable, and remediable differences in health from one population group to another. And the disparities were there long before the pandemic.
We will deploy proven technology and best-in-class health education content into priority communities where we create exciting new opportunities for engagement. We will use best-in-class data analytics and outcomes analyses to track changes and impact. Our end goal is to inspire many more people to focus on attaining their full potential for health and wellbeing—and give them the tools to do it.
The Change We Want to See
The Foundation is actively involved in high-priority communities where the data on health metrics and patient outcomes shows a clear disparity. We see a future where all people in the partner communities we have joined are able to get on equitable health journeys of their own.
We see a clear path to leveraging world-class health content and cutting-edge technology to inspire and influence healthier behaviors. In the work we do, we want to improve the measures on health equity through individual and community health empowerment.
Health Equity
Health equity exists when all people have access to opportunities to thrive, both physically and mentally. It exists when no one is limited in achieving health and wellness because of their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, ability, sexual orientation, age, income, or zip code.
Social Determinants
of Health
According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 80% of people’s health comes from determinants external to formal healthcare environments. A full 30% of people’s health can be attributed to their personal behaviors. This is our area of focus: to find novel ways to positively influence people’s behaviors in their daily lives, thereby changing outcomes once they enter the doctor’s office.
PPF Leadership Team
Denyse Ferguson
Chief Executive Officer
Denyse has spent the last 30+ years catalyzing new phases of growth for established companies, start-up organizations, non-profit organizations, and other cause-related entities. She has extensive experience in multiple areas of business strategy, marketing, and development across multiple industries and around the globe. Leading the PPF builds on her previous mission to transform health system community impact efforts.
Brian Hines
Chief Marketing Officer
Having spent more than 25 years in operations, business development and marketing leadership roles with major brands and agencies, Brian brings a wealth of experience to the PPF. He draws on marketing and branding insights and execution from work across a variety of industries such as professional and collegiate sports, events, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, media, automotive, edtech, creative experiential and healthcare.
Michelle Bush
Head of Community Partnerships
A creative strategic thinker with a passion for cultivating partnerships, Michelle brings skilled and dynamic energy to the PPF, which includes a deep focus on understanding and anticipating needs of partners and communities at various intersections. She carries with her close to 15 years of experience in working across a variety of industries including large consumer packaged goods manufacturers, lifestyle brands, as well as health and wellness.
PPF Board of Directors
Mike Collette
CEO, PatientPoint
Denyse Ferguson
CEO, PatientPoint Foundation
Damon Frost
CIO, Global Beauty Care, Procter & Gamble
Max Langenkamp
SVP HR & Chief Diversity Officer, Cintas
Mark McAndrew
Partner, Taft Law
Linda Ruschau
Chief Client Officer, PatientPoint
