Conference Focuses Attention on Improving Urban Health

The National Center for Health Behavioral Change (NCHBC) at Morgan State University and the Urban Medical Institute will host a 3-day symposium on public health prevention on October 3-5, 2004. The National Symposium on Health Behavioral Change: Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will take place at the Cross Keys Radisson Hotel in Baltimore, MD.

The symposium, according to Dr. Jay Carrington Chunn, the Center’s director and principal investigator, will provide what he terms a “market place” for the exchange of ideas on improving public health.

“We can reduce morbidity and mortality rates for Blacks and people of color by increasing the public’s awareness of the role of prevention in health care,” says Dr. Chunn. “We will have some of the best and brightest in the health, social and behavioral sciences exploring ways that we can encourage change in people’s behavior as it relates to their health. By doing that,” he says, “we will ultimately be a healthier community, a healthier society.”

The NCHBC’s three-day symposium will bring together health professionals and practitioners in the public health and social science fields, as well as national college and university faculty and community organizations from across the country. Keynote speakers include Dr. Donna Christensen, chairperson, Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust, and Dr. Lucy Perez of the National Medical Association. Panels will focus on the effects of behavior on health, such as nutrition and exercise, violence and HIV/AIDS as well as offer discussions on ways to bring about a reversal of those behaviors.

The National Center for Health Behavioral Change was founded in 2002 with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation. It is committed to developing health behavioral change curricula and training materials for schools and professionals. The Center also seeks to identify research needs while developing and testing health behavioral change theories.

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a coeducational institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s public urban university, Morgan serves a multi-ethnic and multi-racial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information on Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.