Lessons from an Internship: How an Independence Blue Cross Foundation Internship Helped Me Launch a Health Initiative in Sierra Leone

Maila Turay signing the visitor log at Port Loko Government Hospital alongside Head Matron Kumba In 2017, as a sophomore nursing student at Temple University, I landed my first nursing job as a summer “extern” at the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. I was excited to gain the inpatient clinical skills that are the foundation of a long and fruitful career in nursing....
Read More

Breaking the Stigma of Addiction: An Independence Associate Shares His Story of Recovery

Patrick Flynn listening to the personal story of someone affected by the opioid crisis at a Someone You Know kiosk
Patrick Flynn listening to the personal story of someone affected by the opioid crisis at a Someone You Know kiosk In 2018, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation launched Someone You Know, a national campaign to reduce the stigma associated with opioid use disorder. The campaign shares the personal stories of those affected by the opioid crisis....
Read More

Independence Blue Cross Foundation announces expansion of ‘Someone You Know’ awareness campaign on the stigma of opioid misuse

Philadelphia, PA — April 4, 2019 — At an event held at its Philadelphia headquarters, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) announced the expansion of “Someone You Know,” a grassroots and public health awareness campaign that is reducing the stigma of opioid addiction, inspiring hope, and empowering others to seek help and treatment. Ten new diverse stories will be added to the campaign,...
Read More

IBC Foundation teams with Walgreens to reduce prescription drug abuse through expanded safe medication disposal

Stephen P. Fera and Governor Tom Wolf
Stephen P. Fera, of Independence Blue Cross, with Governor Tom Wolf. Stephen P. Fera, senior vice president of Public Affairs for Independence Blue Cross, joined Governor Tom Wolf and representatives from Walgreens to highlight safe medication disposal kiosks throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. These kiosks allow individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted prescriptions,...
Read More

Independence Blue Cross Foundation joins DDAP for regional warm hand-off summits

Left to right: Heather Major, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Dr Rachel, Levine, Secretary, PA Department of Health, Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Left to right: Heather Major, Independence Blue Cross Foundation; Dr Rachel Levine, Secretary, PA Department of Health; Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) joined the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health on March 20 and 21 for two summits addressing emergency room-based warm handoff protocols — an evidence-based practice ensuring overdose survivors receive immediate referrals to treatment....
Read More

IBC Foundation hosts Caron nursing workshops for substance abuse

A photo of Dr. Michael McCormick of Caron Treatment Centers, Lorina Marshall-Blake of the IBC Foundation,  Sean Lavelle of Caron Treatment Centers, and Heather Major of the BC Foundation programs.
From left to right: Dr. Michael McCormick, staff physician, Caron Treatment Centers, Lorina Marshall-Blake, president, IBC Foundation,  Sean Lavelle, regional vice president for Caron Treatment Centers, and Heather Major, manager IBC Foundation programs. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation hosted two Caron Treatment Centers workshops on February 8 and February 28 to train nurses and health care professionals on Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)....
Read More

IBC Foundation president one of five honored by Senator Bob Casey during Black History Month

Omar Woodward , Lorina Marshall-Blake, Senator Bob Casey, Rakia Reynolds, Joan Myers Brown, and Sulaiman Rahman.
Pictured left to right: Omar Woodward, Lorina Marshall-Blake, Senator Bob Casey, Rakia Reynolds, Joan Myers Brown, and Sulaiman Rahman. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) President Lorina Marshall-Blake was one of five African American Pennsylvanians honored by U.S. Senator Bob Casey for her dedication to creating innovative solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues and for her work in inspiring the next generation of leaders....
Read More