Former Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Louis W. Sullivan to give keynote at 2013 Symposium

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Louis W. Sullivan to give keynote at 2013 Symposium

Submitted by Sholnn Freeman Communications Specialist Howard University 

      WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2013 Symposium on U.S. healthcare at Howard University has announced Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, as its keynote speaker on Wednesday, April 10.

     Health professionals from across the nation will assemble at Howard for the one-day event, held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Armour Blackburn Center, 2397 Sixth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Attendees and speakers from health professions will focus on minority health disparities, building the capacity to combat issues through education, research and community leadership, and establishing a pipeline for minorities in STEM careers.

     Health disparities among minority U.S. populations and ethnic groups are apparent in the adult deaths, infant mortality rates and other oft-cited health measures. By promoting minority preparation for leadership roles and improving access to a more diverse group of health professionals, health outcomes can be improved in vulnerable communities.

The event is free and open to the public, although registration is required. To register, visit here. 

     Dr. Sullivan will focus the conversation on such issues with an address titled, “Preparing Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).”  

     Dr. Antoine Garibaldi, distinguished Howard University alumnus and president of the University of Detroit-Mercy, will address the issue of “Bringing Black Males into the Healthcare Pipeline.”  

     Dr. Jeanne Sinkford, associate executive director and director of the American Dental Education Association’s Center for Equity and Diversity, Dr. Marc Nivet of the Association of American Medical Colleges and Dr. Christina Stasiuk of Cigna Health Services will highlight the role of minority women in healthcare professions. Reginald Van Lee, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, will focus on the effectiveness of the use of mega-community approaches to healthcare issues.

     “By providing more Americans with access to quality care, the Affordable Care Act was a major step toward equalizing healthcare across communities,” said Jannette L. Dates, Ph.D., dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Communications and chair of the Symposium Planning Committee. “Key to our mission of eliminating health disparities is increasing the number of minority health professionals that understand their communities’ needs.”

     With funds donated by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and support of the University’s Time Warner Endowment, the Howard University Initiative on Democracy, Markets, Communication and Technology (IDMCT) seeks to increase opportunities for the University to facilitate national and international research and discussions of complex national and international issues.

     For more information about Howard University, call (202)-238-2330 or visit the University’s Web site at www.howard.edu.