WASHINGTON, April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hispanic doctors from across the U.S. meet here April 17-20 to share healthcare innovations affecting Latinos and the findings of three "Health Disparities and Hispanics Leadership Summits" by the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA).
The doctors are attending the 12th annual conference of the National Hispanic Medical Association, a nonprofit group based in Washington, DC, that represents Hispanic physicians in the U.S. NHMA is teaming with federal and state governments and the private sector for its conference -- "Health Care Reform & Health Disparities: A Priority for Hispanic Communities."
A press conference on the summit findings to eliminate health disparities will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 18, in the Dupont Room, Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Invited speakers include Dr. Garth N. Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Dr. Ciro Sumaya, dean, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center; Josefina Carbonell, HHS assistant secretary for aging; Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, HHS; Kerry Weems, acting administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS; and Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA).
"Latinos are the largest ethnic group in the U.S. and also the most uninsured," said Dr. Elena Rios, NHMA's president. "NHMA and OMH are seeking to address those issues through cultural, language, education services."
Over six months, NHMA and OMH had health summits in New York, Sacramento, CA and Austin, TX to discuss barriers to better health for Hispanics, devise strategies for the future and build consensus on federal policies for the next five years to improve Hispanic health.
"The Office of Minority Health is committed to improving the health of the Hispanic community," said Dr. Garth Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health.
A highlight of the conference will be a "Health Reform and Health Disparities Presidential Forum" April 18 in which representatives of Sens. Clinton (D-NY), Obama (D-IL) and McCain (R-AZ) will attend.
The forum includes the American Medical Association, Association of American Indian Physicians, National Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Hispanic Dental Association and National Association of Hispanic Nurses.
Information: www.nhmamd.org.
SOURCE National Hispanic Medical Association
