Conference to convene experts to address diversity in health care

Meeting the health care needs of an ethnically and culturally diverse society and correcting disparities in health care delivery will be discussed at a national conference, "Enhancing Diversity in Healthcare Delivery and Education: Needs and Strategies," scheduled May 3-5 at Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina in San Diego.

National authorities in the field of diversity in medical education and healthcare will be presenters at the three-day conference, co-sponsored by the Association of American Indian Physicians, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Medical Association, and the UCSD School of Medicine.

Co-chairs of the conference are Sandra Daley, M.D., assistant dean of student development and director of the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the UCSD School of Medicine, and Sandra Perez-McCraw, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice.

"One of our goals is to develop strategies for enhancing diversity in our own communities through the use of educational systems, healthcare delivery systems, health service providers and the workforce," said Perez-McCraw.

"As educators and physicians, we need to understand the changing demographics of our population, how that impacts medical practice, and how we train new physicians, emphasizing cultural competency and focusing on the needs of underserved communities," said Daley.

Among the featured speakers scheduled to address the conference and lead workshops are Vivian Pinn, M.D., associate director for Research on Women�s Health at the National Institutes of Health, who will give the opening dinner address, speaking on "Diversity in Women�s Health."

The keynote address, "Health Status of Underserved Communities," will be delivered by David Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D., professor of medicine at UCLA. The luncheon address will be given by Michael Drake, M.D., vice president for health affairs, University of California.

Program presenters include Rodney Hood, M.D., a San Diego physician and president of the National Medical Association, who will speak on "Origins of Disparity: A Historical Perspective." Roberto Gomez, M.D., associate dean of the Office of Cultural and Ethnic Programs, University of New Mexico, will present "Disparities and Multicultural Issues." Melvina McCabe, M.D., associate professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, will speak on "Enhancing Diversity in Healthcare Delivery and Education: Existing Strategies."

Conference workshops will cover a number of topics, including "Promoting Cultural Competency in Education," "Lessons to be Learned from the Community and Business," "An American Health Dilemma: A Medical History of African Americans and the Problem of Race," and "Models of Healthcare Delivery Systems in Diverse Communities."

Other scheduled speakers include Nathan Stinson, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., deputy assistant director for minority health, Office of Minority Health, NIH; David N. Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in Sacramento, CA; Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO, California Endowment; Joan Y. Reede, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean of faculty development and diversity at Harvard Medical School; and J. Nadine Garcia, immediate past president, Student National Medical Association, now at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Scheduled to participate are Claude Earle Fox, M.D., M.P.H., administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, NIH; Hector Flores, M.D., co-director, White Memorial Medical Center Family Practice Medical Program in Los Angeles, Elaine Batchlor, M.D., M.P.H., vice president, California Healthcare Foundation; W. Michael Byrd. M.D., M.P.H., senior research scientist and obstetrician/gynecologist at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Also, Jessie Knight, Jr., president and CEO, San Diego Chamber of Commerce; Gabriel Arce, CEO, Community Health Group, George R. Flores, M.D., M.P.H., health officer and director of public health, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, and Doris Alvarez, Ph.D., principal and director, the Preuss School.

Medical students will also present their views in a panel discussion of disparities in education.

The conference is designated for 10.5 Continuing Medical Education credit hours. For information on conference registration, call toll free (888) 229-6263 or visit the UCSD CME website at http://cme.ucsd.edu.