Contact:
Jennifer Berman
Media Relations
NYU Medical Center
(212) 404-3555
Email: Jennifer.Berman@nyumc.org

Conference Contact/Center for Latino Health:
Martha Laureano, (212) 263-8949 or (917)-803-2367
Germaine Choice, (212) 263-9977

NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CENTER FOR LATINO HEALTH AND INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND RESEARCH HOST THE FIFTH ANNUAL LATINO HEALTH CONFERENCE
Social Justice and Latino Health: The Life Cycle
Friday, May 4 - Saturday, May 5, 2007

NEW YORK, NY – May 2, 2007 – Renowned Latino health care professionals, legislators, educators and community advocates will gather at an important informational two-day conference “Social Justice and Latino Health: The Life Cycle”. This event is one of the only major conferences besides the National Hispanic Medical Association’s National Conference that is focused on the health care issues of this population, and is hosted annually by New York University School of Medicine.

The Conference will be held at NYU School of Medicine’s Farkas Auditorium, located in Alumni Hall at 550 First Avenue (between 30th & 31st Streets) NYC. Registration is still accessible. The event is free of charge and begins on Friday, May 4th from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with speakers and award presentations and continues on Saturday, May 5th, with concurrent all-day sessions from 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Latino Community is the fastest growing minority community in many parts of the United States. In New York City, Latinos from various countries and cultures comprise the second largest ethnic group, after non-Latino whites. Despite their numbers, Latinos continue to face linguistic, cultural, and social barriers to appropriate and timely health care services, resulting in high rates of illness and death from many preventable conditions.

This year the conference participants will explore social justice issues affecting the health of Latinos throughout the life cycle. Experts will discuss topics such as Maternal and child health, Mental Health and wellbeing in young adults, The Diabetes Connection: Obesity and Heart Disease, Violence and the Penal System, Hepatitis-Liver Disease, HIV / AIDS and Disparate Health and Healthcare Services.

Friday evening’s opening ceremony will begin with welcoming remarks by Mariano J. Rey, M.D., Dean of Community Health, NYU School of Medicine and Martha Laureano, NYU Center for Latino Health and the Director of the Annual Latino Health Conference.

NYU will honor several outstanding Latinos for their commitment to the health of the Latino Community. The award ceremony will begin with remarks by NYC Councilman the Hon. Joel Rivera. A selection of key public policy and medical leaders will address the plenary to discuss “A Plan Towards Universal Healthcare! Which Plans Will Benefit The Latino Community? The panel moderated by David Galarza, will include Panelists: Jaime Torres MD “Latinos for a National Health Insurance”. Jeff Cruz MS , Senior Analyst Campaign for America's Future Washington DC, Mayra Alvarez, MHA Legislative Assistant on Health, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL).

Latinos for a National Health Insurance is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias Award. Honorary remarks and the Richie Perez Community Service Award will be presented by Ms. Martha Laureano- Perez, wife of the late visionary leader and the Conference Director to Dennis deLeon, Founder and President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. Other awardees are Dan Suarez, MSN, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, NY. and Adrian Zurca, Medical Student, Class ’09 NYU School of Medicine.

The conference will update participants on diseases affecting Latinos, stimulate discussion about the link between social justice issues and their adverse effects on our well being and will explore strategies to improve these conditions. This forum will help to foster partnerships between community organizations and healthcare institutions focusing on prevention and treatment of diseases. It will also promote opportunities in academic medicine, scientific research, and health careers and is geared toward physicians and other health professionals, community leaders and public advocates who are involved in creating networks and programs to decrease health disparities in the Latino community. “It is out hope that in working together we can move forward the agenda to alleviate the disparities that Latinos face in health care access and outcome”, says Mariano Rey, M.D.

For additional information NYU Latino Health Conference, please call (212) 263-4852 or visit http://www.med.nyu.edu/ichr/clh/events/conference.html

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