Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy's Center for Minority
Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) hosted its Fifth Health Disparities Conference March 6-8, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Conference participants included clinicians (pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals), health policy makers, health educators, and public and community health leaders whose work incorporates the use of mid-level providers to build partnerships to eliminate health disparities and improve health equity.
This conference titled, Achieving Health Equity through Access, Advocacy, Treatment, and Policy Development, included discussions on successful multidisciplinary models for improved health systems outcomes. Previous conference attendee evaluations indicated that the abstract podium presentations enhanced the effectiveness of the conference and helped to stimulate discussions surrounding effective clinical strategies, basic science, health policy and research disciplines, and most importantly, the significant role of mid-level providers and interdisciplinary collaborations. Our planning committee continues to build on this momentum with developing content for the 2012 Conference.
Thank you for your continued support of programming from the CMHDRE!
Sincerely,
Kathleen B. Kennedy, PharmD - Program Chair
Leonard Jack, Jr., PhD, MSc - Program Co-Chair
Ann R. Barbre, PhD - Planning Committee Chair
The mission of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) is to provide the infrastructure required to conduct research. In addition, the center is charged with providing basic, clinical, and behavioral experiential training and community outreach education aimed at eliminating health disparities. The overarching goals of the CMHDRE are to: a) provide an environment to support and strengthen research interest and activities of current and new faculty members related to health disparities with a focus on diabetes and cancer; b) develop student-oriented programs to support and promote student involvement in research activities; and c) integrate health promotion, education, and disease prevention into primary care services. Accomplishing these goals will increase the ability of the College to produce a pool of well-educated health professionals and biomedical researchers attuned to the issues of disparities research.