New State Health Rankings, Food Safety Guidelines and Area-Specific Risk Trends Released at Public Health Meeting 11/13/2003
From: American Public Health Association Press Office, 202-777-2501; or beginning Nov. 15 at the San Francisco Marriott, Pacific Suite C, 415-284-8019 or 415-518-8108 (cell) News Advisory: Over 13,000 public health leaders from around the world will come together to share the latest in public health research at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco, Nov. 15-19. The Meeting will highlight the release of new reports on social and behavioral risk factors; it will also include hundreds of sessions on other significant issues in public health such as SARS and bioterrorism. -- Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, World Health Organization communicable diseases expert Dr. David Heymann, and other public health experts kick off the Meeting with remarks at the Opening Session on Sunday, Nov. 16, at noon. -- Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, will speak at the Closing Session on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. In between these two events are news conferences and over 900 sessions where attendees can access the most up-to-date public health research reflecting the broad impact this field has in our lives. Meeting program and abstracts are searchable at http://www.apha.org/meetings. News conferences include: WHAT: News Conference: New Report Ranks Healthiness of States The United Health Foundation releases new report ranking healthiness of U.S. states. Report is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, yearly analysis of healthiness of the American population. WHO: Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director, APHA; Dr. Reed Tuckson, vice president, United Health Foundation; John Clymer, president, Partnership for Prevention. WHEN: Monday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m., San Francisco Marriott, Pacific Suite E ------ WHAT: News Conference: USDA Releases New Consumer Food Safety Guidelines USDA releases new consumer food safety and food security guidelines, such as food handling, foodborne illness and reporting suspected food tampering. WHO: Dr. Gary McKee, administrator, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service; Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director, APHA. WHEN: Monday, Nov. 17, 12:30 p.m., San Francisco Marriott, Pacific Suite E ------ WHAT: News Conference: CDC Releases New Data on Local Risk Trends CDC releases new data on issues such as smoking, obesity, diabetes and overall health status for more than 98 metropolitan areas. The data will help communities respond to emerging health problems. WHO: Dr. James S. Marks, director, Nat'l Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC; Dr. Ali H. Mokdad, branch chief, Behavioral Surveillance Branch, NCCDPHP, CDC; Dr. Alonzo Plough, director, Seattle-King County Public Health Department; Donna Nichols, senior prevention policy analyst, Texas Department of Health; Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director, APHA. WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m., San Francisco Marriott, Pacific Suite E |