Renowned Health Reform Activist Sidney Wolfe, M.D. To Kick-Off Med Student Anti-Pharmaceutical Promotions Campaign 3/8/2002
From: Tim Clarke, Jr. of AMSA, 703-620-6600, ext. 207 or 301-814-2678 (mobile) Email: prel@www.amsa.org News Advisory: Sidney Wolfe, M.D., co-founder and director of the D.C.-based Public Citizen Health Research Group, will discuss the influence of pharmaceutical companies on medical education on Saturday, March 9, at 8:40 a.m., as part of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) 52nd Annual National Convention, set for March 6-10, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Hotel in Houston, Texas. Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe is the Director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group and an Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Wolfe met Ralph Nader in Washington, D.C. at a meeting of the American Patients Association. He began advising Nader on health problems and helped in the recruitment of medical student volunteers who worked for Nader. Dr. Wolfe then set up Health Research Group in November 1971. In April 2002, AMSA will launch a new educational initiative to encourage medical students to abstain from accepting pharmaceutical gifts, a promotional effort designed to influence physician prescribing practices. "It's important to communicate strong ethical behaviors to the medical student community before they are indoctrinated into the habits of accepting free lunches," says Jaya Agrawal, AMSA's national president and a fourth-year medical student at Brown University. Event: Keynote Address by Sidney Wolfe, M.D. of Public Citizen Date: March 9 Time: 8:40 a.m. (approx. 50 minutes) Location: Imperial Center/West Ballroom, Hyatt Regency Downtown 1200 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas Hotel Phone Number: (713) 654-1234 Contact: Tim Clarke, Jr., AMSA Director of Public Relations Office: (703) 620-6600, ext. 207 (before 3/5/02) Mobile phone: (301) 814-2678 (after 3/6/02) Email: prel@www.amsa.org Note: Media must check-in at the AMSA registration area to receive complimentary credentials and a convention program. |