For Immediate Release:
Contact For Journalists/Media Only
Jennifer Berman
(212) 404-3555
Email: jennifer.berman@nyumc.org
Conference Contact/Office of Diversity Affairs:
Martha Laureano
(212) 263-8949
NYU School Of Medicine and the Center for Health Disparities Research Host the Fourth Annual Latino Health Conference: “Social Justice and Latino Health”
New York, October 28, 2005 – Renowned Latino leaders in the health and political community will gather at a free two-day conference, “Social Justice and Latino Health”. This event, hosted annually by New York University School of Medicine, stands out as one of the only major conferences besides the National Hispanic Medical Association’s National Conference that focuses on this population’s health care issues. It will be held at NYU School of Medicine’s Farkas Auditorium, located in Alumni Hall at 550 First Avenue (between 30th & 31st Streets), New York City.
The event begins on Friday, October 28 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. with speakers and award presentations, then continues on Saturday, October 29 with concurrent all-day sessions from 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
This year conference participants will explore social justice issues affecting the health of our communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Health care experts will discuss topics such as Healthy Housing, Law Enforcement/Penal System, Health Education, Unequal Health Care Services, Domestic Violence, The Marketing of Disease, and Immigration.
Friday evening will begin with welcoming remarks by Robert M. Glickman, M.D., Dean and CEO, NYU Medical Center, and Mariano Rey, M.D., Director, NYU Center for Health Disparities Research. Honorary remarks and the Richie Perez Community Service Award will be presented by Ms. Martha Laureano-Perez, wife of Richie Perez, the late visionary leader and the conferences’ Coordinator. Awardees are: Nilda Medina, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee; Zaida Torres, R.N., Vieques Women’s Association; Luis Garcia, Class of 2008, NYU School of Medicine; Miriam Gonzales, B.S.,R.N., Visiting Nurse Service; and Nydia M.Velazquez, Congress 12th Congressional District.
Saturday’s program will begin with remarks by the Hon. Hiram Montserrate, Queens Councilman. A panel of key public policy and medical leaders will discuss Condition Critical: A Report About the State of Latino Leadership in NYC’s Private Hospitals and review an interim Progress Report presented by the GNYHA Task Force. The panel includes Annette Fuentes, author of the report; Angelo Falcon, President and Co-Founder, Institute for Puerto Rican Policy; Nydia Velazquez, US Representative, 12th District, NYC; and Ida Castro, Esq. Chair, Greater New York Hospital Association. Its moderator will be Elena Rios, M.D., President, National Hispanic Medical Association, and Mariano Rey, M.D., NYU School of Medicine.
The conference will update participants on diseases affecting Latinos, discuss healthcare challenges facing Latino communities, and establish agendas for change by developing strategies to decrease health disparities. It will explore partnerships between Latino community organizations and healthcare institutions that focus on disease prevention and treatment. The event will also promote opportunities in academic medicine, scientific research, and health careers. It is geared toward physicians and other health professionals, community leaders, and public advocates who are involved in creating networks and programs to decrease health disparities in the Latino community.
“It is our hope that in working together we can move forward the agenda to alleviate the disparities that Latinos face in health care access and outcome”, says Mariano Rey, M.D.
The Latino Community is the fastest growing minority community in many parts of the United States. In New York City, Latinos from various countries and cultures comprise the second largest ethnic group after non-Latino whites. Despite their numbers, Latinos continue to face linguistic, cultural, and social barriers to appropriate and timely health care services, resulting in high rates of illness and death from many preventable conditions.
For additional information on the NYU Latino Health Conference, please call (212) 263-8949 or visit www.med.nyu.edu/diversity_affairs/calendar/
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