Media Alert

Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
973-972-7276
E-mail: dineskd@umdnj.edu

Health Professionals at UMDNJ To Host South Asian American Health Disparities Conference

5/3/05—For the first time, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is hosting a South Asian American Health Disparities Conference for health care professionals, community-based organization representatives, and policy makers. The conference will take place on Friday, June 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Ramada Inn Conference Center, 999 Route One South, North Brunswick.

The conference entitled, “Developing an Agenda for Action to Address Health Disparities” is being hosted by UMDNJ’s Office for Multicultural Affairs and coordinated by the UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education. Speakers will present an overview of risk factors and prevention strategies regarding health issues for the South Asian American community. The goals of the conference are to increase awareness about the value of culturally and linguistically sensitive services; highlight effective community-outreach programs; and encourage health professionals to conduct research on South Asian health issues, status and treatments.

During conference workshops, researchers and health care practitioners will discuss the health status of the South Asian American population and describe how this community is affected by various diseases like: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases. Oral health, mental health, domestic violence, and nutrition will also be discussed.

For more information about this conference, please call Anu Motiwala at 732-235-9380.