UNC minority health videoconference to focus on educational inequities and health disparities

 UNC minority health videoconference to focus on educational inequities and health disparities

CHAPEL HILL - A panel of education and public health experts will discuss ways to overcome inequities in education and health in a videoconference scheduled for June 9 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

The 15th annual Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health will be broadcast live online June 9, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Sponsors of the event, titled "Breaking the Cycle: Investigating the Intersection of Educational Inequities and Health Disparities," include the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, the school's Minority Health Project and the University's Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. 

As well as via webcast, the event can be viewed at 27 registered satellite downlink sites in 15 states across the country or at the videoconference venue in room 136 of the Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building at the UNC School of Social Work. 

Participation is free, but registration is required. A list of videoconference sites and registration information is available at www.minority.unc.edu. 

Howard Lee, executive director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, past chair of the N.C. Board of Education and former mayor of Chapel Hill, will serve as moderator for a panel of presenters who will discuss ways in which socio-economic status affects education and health. Panel members include:

* Reginald Weaver, vice president of Education International and past president of the National Education Association;

* Dina C. Castro, Ph.D., research scientist at UNC's FPG Child Development Institute; 

* Lillian A. Sparks, J.D., executive director of the National Indian Education Association; and 

* Nicholas Freudenberg, Dr.PH., distinguished professor and director of the doctor of public health program in the program in urban public health, Hunter College School of Health Sciences, City University of New York.

"The interaction between health status and child development has been well documented," Castro said in her presentation abstract. "Conditions such as low birth weight, malnutrition and illnesses in the early years of life have been found to be associated with physical and cognitive development delays, and later low academic achievement."

For more information about the videoconference or to register, visit www.minority.unc.edu.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, (919) 966-7467, ramona_dubose@unc.ed