Breakout Sessions for 2007 Minority Health Disparities Summit on Thursday, May 17

CONCURRENT SESSION A

(A-1) Panel Discussion: Health Disparities in Florida’s Younger Generation
Moderator: Cynthia Keeton, Health Educator, Hillsborough County Health Department

Panelists: Ksena Zipperer, HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Coordinator, Florida Department of Education; Peter Gamache, MBA, MLA, MPH, (RN), Research Faculty & Ph.D. student, Department of Child & Family Studies, University of South Florida; Shairi Turner, M.D., Chief Medical Director, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice; Crystal Kornell, Youth Representative from Pinellas 4-H Club

Youth are the future of our communities. Obesity, HIV/AIDS, mental health, and nutrition are major health disparities impacting Florida’s youth. This panel discussion will address these health issues and examine methods to eliminate health disparities including community outreach to youth.

(A-2) Health Disparities Among Elderly Minority Populations
Presenters: Yuri Jang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South Florida; Penny Ralston, Ph.D., M.Ed, Dean, College of Human Sciences, Florida State University; Jacqueline J. Lloyd, M.D., Professor, Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University

Elderly minorities continue to face disparities in health and healthcare. This session will address the need for research, developing strategies to educate healthcare providers, examining the future of health policy, implementing community-based health interventions, and understanding the physical and mental health of minority elders.

(A-3) Breaking the Silence: Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Racial and Ethnic Populations
Presenters: Larry T. Richardson, Ph.D., Director, Imani Behavioral Healthcare Center; Maria G. Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D., CAPP, Chair, Latin American Coalition for the Prevention of Addiction; Linda Johns, MSW, Florida Indian Child Welfare Act Manager and Tribal Liaison, Florida Department of Children and Families

Attention is finally being directed towards the burden on communities from mental illness and substance abuse. This session will address behavioral health disparities in relation to minorities, the importance of preventive medicine in mental health issues, and provide an overview of current health and social welfare issues impacting African American, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaskan Native populations.

(A-4) The Elephant in the Room: Racism in Health and Health Inequalities
Presenter: Adewale Troutman, M.D., MPH, MA, Director, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness,  and Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville

This session will explore racial and ethnic barriers that impact racism and health and its effect on the causation and the continuation of health inequalities. It will also highlight the issues of equality, social justice, human rights and population-based health outcomes.

(A-5) Enhancing Racial and Ethnic Data: Collecting Data in Diverse Populations
Presenters: C. Perry Brown, MSPH, DrPh, Professor, Institute of Public Health, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University; Jamie Corvin, Ph.D., MSPH, Research Assistant Professor, University of South Florida, College of Public Health; Sonya R. Albury, MSW, Executive Director, Health Council of South Florida, Inc.

This session will discuss methods to improve strategies in data collection among minority populations. It will also address the compilation and analysis of health outcomes and utilizing data to drive local innovation.

(A-6) Migrant Health in Rural Settings: Challenges and Barriers to Improve the Health of Migrant Populations
Presenters: Marie-Jose Francois, M.D., Executive Director, Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention, Inc.; Elena Reyes, Ph.D., Director of the Behavioral Science Curriculum and Associate Chair, Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences, Florida State University; Gladys Branic, M.D., MPH, Director, Manatee County Health Department

Migrant workers have many barriers to health care, such as poverty, high mobility, low literacy, low English proficiency, cultural differences, and more. This population is thought to have among the worst overall health status in the nation. This session will address health care issues confronting the increasing diverse population of migrant workers in rural settings. It will also highlight barriers experienced by providers in providing health care services to reduce disparities among migrant patients.

(A-7) Oral Health on Total Health: The Impact on Racial and Ethnic Populations
Presenter: Arlene M. Lester, DDS, MPH, Regional Minority Health Consultant, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The importance of oral health is disconnected from total health – particularly in the management of chronic diseases. This presentation will highlight the importance of good oral health, its relationship to chronic and infectious diseases, and disparities underscored by Healthy People 2010 and the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health.

CONCURRENT SESSION B

(B-1) Panel Discussion: “It takes a Village:” The Collaborative-Community Approach to Closing the Health Gap
Moderator: Deanna Washington, M.D., MPH, FAAFP, Director, Public Health Practice Program, University of South Florida

Panelists: Jose’ E. Rodriguez, M.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Florida State University; Loretta Goggins, Chronic Disease Health Promotions & Education Coordinator, Brevard County Health Department; Kevin Sneed, PharmD., Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University; Janie McGrew, MS, ARNP, CCRN, CAN, Power to End Stroke Ambassador for American Heart Association

Minority communities must take the lead to reduce disparities by taking personal responsibility to improve their health through prevention, education, physical activity, and healthy eating. This panel discussion will focus on health disparities that exist in racial and ethnic minority populations and unique solutions to empower our minority communities.

(B-2) Partnerships at the State and Community Level: A Real Commitment to Change
Presenters: Zelma Dickerson, RN, M.Ed., Project Coordinator, Community Affairs Department, Shands Jacksonville; Elizabeth Jensen, VitaGrant Project Coordinator, March of Dimes; Theda J. McPheron Keel, RN, CRRN, MA, MS, CHES, Founder and CEO, Wind Hollow Foundation

A community’s response to medicine creates a healthier community by improving access for Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans. This session will highlight partnerships that have introduced minority populations’ to quality health care, and address the basic health needs of education, screenings, and referrals for the uninsured, underserved, special risk and tribal populations.

(B-3) The Minority Health Care Professional Pipeline: Diversifying of Health Care Professions
Presenters: Kathy Jackson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Access Healthcare Solutions; B Lee Green, Ph.D., M.Ed, Director, Office of Institutional Diversity, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Efforts are underway to recruit and retain minority health professional students in various disciplines, including the area of health disparities research. This session will address the impact of health disparities and the role mentoring has on developing future health professionals and researchers.

(B-4) Program Sustainability: An Essential Function for Improving Health Outcomes
Moderator: Amy Cober, RD, LD, MPH, Director, Department of Health, Office of Minority Health

Presenters: Yolanda G. Martinez-Langford, Ed.D, Ph.D., CPM, Director, Office of Minority Health, Orange County Health Department; Carrie Nero, Ph.D., RN, Retired Director, Office of Minority Health, Pinellas County Health Department

This session will discuss the formulation and role of a Minority Health Office in local County Health Departments. It will also address the operation procedures for the office, as well as, the benefits of incorporating and sustaining programs at the local level that affect minority populations.

(B-5) Leadership and Health Disparities: A Legislative Perspective
Presenters: The Honorable Curtis Richardson, Representative; Rosebud Foster, Ed.D, Special Assistant to Provost and Professor, Nova Southeastern University/AHEC

This session will address the role public officials and educational leaders are taking in advocating for minority health issues and addressing health disparities as a priority in the legislative arena.

(B-6) Social Transformation: Eliminating Health Disparities Through Research, Training, Community Outreach and Coalition Building
Presenter: Brian Gibbs, Ph.D., MPA, Director, Program to Eliminate Health Disparities, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health

Eliminating health disparities requires changing multiple and interrelated behaviors that contribute to adverse health outcomes in minority populations. This presentation will introduce participants to a collaborative research and dissemination partnership that utilizes research, training, community partnerships, coalition building and social transformation to create models for eliminating health disparities in rural and urban communities.

 

For More Information Contact:
Thometta Cozart, M.S.
Summit Coordinator
MinorityHealth@doh.state.fl.us
(850) 245-4444, ext. 2035

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