Week of March 04, 2013
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)/Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training will hold its second annual conference on health equity this Friday (March 8) in CSULB's University Student Union ballrooms from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The conference, “Enriching Health Sciences through Latino Leadership/Enriqueciendo Ciencias de La Salud a través del Liderazgo Latino," is free of charge. It is organized through a cross-college Hispanic Health Opportunities Learning Alliance (H2OLA) grant led by co-Principal Investigators Britt Rios-Ellis, CSULB professor of health science;, and Eric Marinez, CSULB associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The conference will feature keynote speaker David Hayes-Bautista, director of UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, and the panels will highlight cross-disciplinary researchers from USC, UC Irvine, University of Texas and University of Arkansas who will share their health disparities-related research. Afternoon breakout sessions are tailored to both student and health practitioner audiences and include opportunities such as Affordable Care Act implementation, effective community-based programs, and careers in research and medicine. Exhibitors and more than 20 student posters will be on display.
The conference is designed to provide a unique opportunity for interested individuals and professionals to collaborate with national thought leaders, build consensus, make recommendations and develop strategies to promote health equity for Latinos and all underrepresented minorities nationwide. About 300 people are expected to attend, up from 170 in its inaugural year.
Marinez noted, “This conference is a valuable resource for developing and implementing programs and policies that target health Latino health disparities, and for inspiring health-related research in the labs.”
Rios-Ellis added, “Though the work to address Latino health equity is challenging, I am confident that, through our ideas and tireless efforts, together we will gain an edge on preserving and building healthier communities throughout the nation.”
As a Hispanic Serving Institution, CSULB focuses on improving the quality of research and education for Latino communities. The Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training at CSULB strives to eliminate disparities in access and quality of healthcare and health outcomes, and to improve the cultural relevance of health information and the representation of Latino communities.
For questions contact the Center for Latino Community Health at 562/985-4396 or H2OLA@csulb.edu.
For more information on the conference contact Mayra Rascon at mayra.rascon@csulb.edu or 562/985-4396 or register on-line at http://bit.ly/H2OLAconference.
