ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

For more information,
contact Donna Reynolds, Extension Assistant Editor

RACE, POVERTY, HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM NATIONAL WORKSHOP AND TELECONFERENCE IS APRIL 27

AUBURN, FEB. 26---Auburn University will host a national workshop and teleconference April 27 on "Race, Poverty, Health and Health Care in the New Millennium." The program is set for the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The purpose of the day-long program is to engage the nation in a conversation on issues related to race, poverty, health and health care. It's intended to be a catalyst for further discussions in local communities, institutions of higher education, medical and health care institutions or agencies.

"Health problems in the new millennium cannot be understood or solved without making a commitment to understanding the social problems that affect health behavior," says Dr. Evelyn Crayton, Extension food and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. "Conference discussions will focus on education, personal responsibility, health behavior, health care issues in minority and under-represented groups, inadequate access to health care, and politics of healthy communities."

Dr. M. Jocelyn Elders, former U.S. Surgeon General and now pediatric endocrinologist, University of Arkansas School of Medicine, is the keynote speaker. Experts panelists include: MarionSecundy, M.D., Center for Biomedical Research, Carver Research Foundation, Tuskegee University; Jeff Guidry, Ph.D., Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University; Monnieque Singleton, M.D., Denmark Medical Center, South Carolina; Susan Ferguson, M.D., Oncologist, Cooper Green Hospital, Birmingham, Ala.; and Walter W. Williams, M.D., associate director for minorities, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.

Health prevention strategies for the new millennium, impacting the political agenda of health care issues, educational and social implications of poor health behavior, and providing effective care to poor and disadvantaged patients, are just a few topics to be discussed, says Dr. Kathleen Tajeu, community health specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Ethics in research and health care, and cultural relevance of health objectives for 2010 also will be discussed.

A satellite conference and an interactive panel discussion is set from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. At that time, questions and answers will be taken from on-site participants and from those watching via television.

On-site registration for the workshop and teleconference is $25. . Students with college I.D. will be admitted free. Cost for sites to downlink the afternoon teleconference is $395.

For more information about the conference, contact Dr. Renee A. Middleton, College of Education Director of Human Resources and Outreach, 3084 Haley Center, Auburn University, AL 36849-5218, or call her at (334) 844-2248 and FAX her at (334) 844-5785.