More Conference Information
Conference on Closing the Health Gap
2nd Conference on Health Disparities
The second annual conference on health care disparities, “Approaching Disparities Through Prevention” was held on Nov. 15, 2004 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Cinergy Cincinnati Convention Center. More than 1,200 attended the conference this year that was designed for health providers, community organizations, local businesses and the general public to address the alarming issue of health disparities among minorities in the Greater Cincinnati area.
The goal of the Closing the Health Gap Conference was to increase awareness and understanding of the major health problems confronting the region. Experts informed participants about effective programs and strategies utilized to address health disparities at the local, state and federal levels. Participants also learned how to mobilize resources and build partnerships with diverse communities to help them in solving health problems.
“We are confident that this year's conference was equally as informative and stimulating as last year's conference,” says Dwight Tillery, President and CEO of the Center for Closing the Health Gap. “It was our hope that even the attendees would leave the conference realizing that they, too have a responsibility for their health and that they can do something about the quality of health care.”
A total of 20 workshop sessions were offered. Conference sessions covered topics such as the clinicians role in the prevention of STDS/AIDS, community unity: a key to addressing infant mortality, defining medical cultural competency: importance and practical approaches for the primary care physician and issues facing immigrants arriving in the Cincinnati area.
Keynote speakers included Antonia Coello Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., thirteenth New York State Health Commissioner and former Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service; Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former manager under the first Bush Administration of the federal agency responsible for the nation’s health, welfare, food and drug safety; and Elena V. Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H., President & CEO for the National Hispanic Medical Association and CEO of the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, Inc.
National speakers included Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. Pastor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio; Dick Gregory, Human Rights Activist/social Commentator, Nutritionist; and Bev Smith, National Media Broadcaster, Journalist and Commentator.
The Health Alliance, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and over 80 community partners joined together to offer this conference. The conference enabled Greater Cincinnati to join the national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health in their efforts to eliminate health disparities among the nation’s minorities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many people belonging to racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to have poor health or die prematurely than the majority of the population. The local health statistics for African- Americans, Hispanics and Appalachians are similar to the national statistics.
Conference Co-Sponsors
- Health Alliance
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Supporting Sponsors
- Abbott Laboratories
- Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
- Ariel Capital Management LLC
- BlackRock Financial Management
- Broadlane, Inc.
- Cognis Foundation
- Convergys Corporation
- Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
- Drake Center
- Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Federated Department Stores
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP
- Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati
- HealthSpan Inc.
- LabOne
- Mercy Health Partners
- Montag & Caldwell, Inc.
- Pacific Investment Management Company
- PanAgora
- Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP
- Pfizer
- Procter & Gamble Company
- Shenkman Capital Management
- Toyota
- Tri-State Sleep Disorders Center
- VITAS