The University of Nebraska Medical Center and co-sponsors in 12 cities
across Nebraska invite the public to participate in a free health educational
series titled, Building Bridges to Better Health: Addressing Gaps in Health
Care. The series will run on Thursdays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20, from 6:30 to
8:30 p.m. (CDT).
The series will be broadcast live from Omaha via satellite to 12 Nebraska
communities: Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, Lincoln,
Norfolk, North Platte, ONeill, Red Cloud, Rushville and Scottsbluff.
The public will learn about diabetes, cancer, infant mortality, and
heart disease, while exploring how the conditions impact minority populations
and community health. The goal of UNMC Mini-Medical School is to educate
Nebraskans on health issues that affect them, as well as highlight the
strides being made in research and treatment at UNMC.
José Romero, M.D., associate professor, pediatrics and pathology/microbiology,
said by understanding the disparities that exist among population groups
and factors impacting the patient/provider relationship, the health care
community can begin to close the gaps and improve the health of all Nebraskans.
For example, Dr. Romero said 30 percent of Latinos dont have health
insurance. It limits their access to health care significantly, said
Dr. Romero. Underrepresented minorities also have substantially poor access
to mental health services. The basis for addressing these problems is understanding
what the problems are. First and foremost, we need to do research and then
find ways to address problems within the cultural and linguistic context.
Despite recent progress in overall national health, there are continuing
disparities in the incidence of illness and death among African Americans,
Latino/Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans as compared
with the U.S. population as a whole. Recent studies have shown that racial
and ethnic minorities often have a more difficult time accessing care and
have worse health outcomes compared to other Americans. Research also has
shown that people who live in rural areas are receiving less preventive
care and medical treatment than their urban counterparts.
With racial/ethnic minority populations growing faster than the population
as a whole, as well as increasing in rural areas, addressing disparities
in health care needs to be a priority, Dr. Romero said.
Seating is limited. Registration is required. To get more information
about the series, go to: www.unmc.edu/gaps While the program is free to
the public, Nebraska and Iowa nurses who wish to receive six contact hours
of continuing nursing education credits can do so at a cost of $30 through
the UNMC College of Nursing.
UNMC Mini-Medical School dates, topics and presenters:
Nov. 6: What do we mean by health disparities? presented by
Mary Haven, associate dean, UNMC School of Allied Health Professions; Dealing
with Diabetes, presented by Jennifer Larsen, M.D., professor and section
chief, UNMC internal medicine: section of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism;
and Combating Cancer, presented by Ralph Hauke, M.D., assistant professor,
internal medicine: section of oncology/hematology.
On Nov. 13: The Impact of Infant Mortality, will be presented
by Magda Peck, Sc.D., professor, UNMC department of pediatrics; and Getting
a Handle on Heart Disease, by Richard Rigmaiden III, M.D., assistant professor,
UNMC internal medicine: section of cardiology, and director, Minority Health
Education and Research Office.
Nov. 20: Developing Cultural Competency, by Rubens Pamies,
M.D., vice chancellor for UNMC academic affairs and dean for graduate studies;
Patient Safety in Medical Research, by Bruce Gordon, M.D., chairman,
UNMC Institutional Review Board and associate professor, UNMC pediatric
hematology/oncology & stem cell transplantation.
A panel discussion, Efforts to address health disparities in Nebraska
communities, will be presented by: Gretchen Forsell, executive director,
Northern Nebraska-Area Health Education Center; Sarah Cunningham, Ph.D.,
executive director, Central Nebraska-Area Health Education Center; Wayne
Houston, UNMC community liaison North Omaha, UNMC Community Partnership
and José Romero, M.D., associate professor, pediatrics and pathology/microbiology,
and chief Latino recruitment officer for UNMC.
Locations of free UNMC Mini-Medical School series and registration
information:
Columbus
Central Community College-Columbus, North Education Building, Room
908
4500 63rd St.
(402) 562-1409, toll-free (800) 642-1083, smahlin@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska-Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC)
and Central Community College
Grand Island
College Park Room 203
3180 W. Hwy 34, (308) 385-6677, mary@cn-ahec.org
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska-Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC)
and Central Community College
Hastings
Central Community College Platte Building/Walnut Room
East Hwy 6, (402) 461-2429, rlurk@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska-Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC)
and Central Community College
Holdrege
Central Community College at Phelps County Ag Center
1308 2nd Ave., (308) 995-8133, dwatson@cccneb.edu
Sponsored by: Central Nebraska-Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC)
and Central Community College
Kearney
Distance Learning Center
Communications Building Room 241, 1918 University Drive
(308) 865-8503, holoubeckja@unk.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska at Kearney
Lincoln
College of Dentistry, 40th & Holdrege Streets
(402) 472-9993, gtmason@unmc.edu
Sponsored by: UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division and UNMC College
of Dentistry
Norfolk
Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center, Suite D
601 E. Benjamin Ave, (402) 844-7335, (no email registration available)
Sponsored by: Northern Nebraska-Area Health Education Center (NN-AHEC)
and Northeast Community College
North Platte
McKinley Education Center, 301 W. F St.
(308) 696-1201, shirleensmith@alltel.net
Sponsored by: West Central District Health Department and McKinley
Education Center
Omaha
UNMC College of Nursing Cooper Auditorium, 42nd & Dewey Ave.
call (402) 559-4315 or jemeier@unmc.edu
ONeill
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Courthouse Annex
128 N. 6th St., (402) 336-2760, rkulm1@unl.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
Red Cloud
Webster County Historical Museum Exhibit Hall
721 W. 4th (West Hwy. 136), (402) 746-3417, dlienemann2@unl.edu
Sponsored by: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension at Webster
County
Rushville
Sheridan County Cooperative Extension, 105 Loofborrow
(308) 327-2312, scarson1@unl.edu
Sponsored by: Sheridan County Cooperative Extension
Scottsbluff
UNMC College of Nursing, University Complex Panhandle Station
Room 201, 4502 Ave I.
(308) 632-0410, bhartsho@unmc.edu
Sponsored by: UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division
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