Press Releases

Reps. Christensen & Watt, Speaker Gingrich, Nelson Join Foundation To Shine Light on Health Disparities at Leadership Summit 

Forum Spotlights Progress & New Directions for Eliminating Health Disparities

Washington, DC (April 26, 2005) – Current and former Members of Congress, clinicians, community organizations and industry leaders today joined the National Minority Health Month Foundation (NMHMF) as it kicked off its second annual Leadership Summit on Health Disparities in Washington, DC to assess the progress being made to close the health gap.

“Many Americans are not aware of the health disparity crisis facing our country,” said Gary A. Puckrein, Ph.D., Executive Director of the NMHMF. “In evaluating whether we are making progress, we must consider the inroads that have been made and develop an evidence-based platform that shines light on the problem and provides new directions to monitor and evaluate the prevalence of disease disparities.”

U.S. Representative Donna M. Christensen highlighted Congress's response during her keynote address at the opening plenary session. “As chair of the Health Braintrust of the CBC, eliminating disparities is not just a plank on our political agenda. It is a matter of life and death for our constituents and the communities which need them. The foundation has an important role to play and so they are an invaluable partner in improving the quality and the length of lives of African Americans and other people of color, and in doing so improving the lives of all Americans,” said Rep. Christensen.

Honors were presented to applaud and encourage leadership and community action. U.S. Representative Mel Watt received the Lifetime Achievement Award for commitment to ensuring quality healthcare and former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation, received the Bernardo Alberto Houssay Award for outstanding contributions to the elimination of diabetes.

“I am delighted to receive this honor,” said Rep. Watt, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “It's great to know that Members have partners like the Foundation who are engaged in the community and working to ensure that all Americans live healthy and long lives.”

"Diabetes and other chronic diseases are placing a tremendous human and financial burden on populations across the country, with a particularly devastating effect on minorities," said Gingrich. "One of our key goals at the Center for Health Transformation is the elimination of those disparities and the associated human tragedy. I am honored to receive this Award, and I share it with those leaders who are working with us at the

Center to create a 21st Century Intelligent Health System where every American – regardless of race, location or income level -- will experience better health and lower cost and where health disparities in America will be virtually eliminated."

Among the 2005 awardees were: B. Waine Kong, Ph.D., J.D., Executive Director of the Association of Black Cardiologists who was honored with the Charles Richard Drew Award; Elijah Saunders, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, received the Daniel Hale Williams Award; the Santiago Ramon y Cajal Award went to Jane Delgado, M.D., President of the National Alliance of Hispanic Health; Ambassador Margaret M. Heckler, former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who received the Visionary award; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals was awarded the Booker T. Washington Award, and Kaiser Permanente received the Mary Eliza Mahoney Award.

Sponsors of the Summit , included: American Medical Association, Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Kaiser Permanente, McKesson Health Solutions, Medco Health Solutions, Merck & Co., Ortho Biotech, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis.

“The American Medical Association is committed to closing gaps in the delivery of medical care," said AMA President John C. Nelson, M.D.,M.P.H. "The profession of medicine plays an important role in confronting health care disparities to help level the playing field for all patients."

The Foundation also announced its participation in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) program. The PPA brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Former Washington Redskin Charley Taylor, former Dallas Cowboys Rayfield Wright, Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro, Hall of famer Abner Haynes, Sr. and other members of the Heroes of Football will serve as ambassadors in communities of color to build awareness about the prescription drug benefit.

“By opening access to resources that make life saving medicines affordable, millions of Americans can be on track to be more compliant and live healthier lives,” said Dr. Puckrein.

The two-day Summit also featured specials guests Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of NBC's the Apprentice, WJLA TV News anchor Leon Harris, who was master of ceremony for the Leadership Awards Dinner, former Washington Redskin Brigg Owens and Vivian Berryhill, President and Founder of the National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses.

National Minority Health Month Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the building of coalitions and evidence-based solutions towards the elimination of health disparities.

FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SUMMIT TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES

Washington, DC – National Minority Health Month Foundation (NMHMF) today officially announced their 2nd Annual National Health Disparities Summit with the launching of their website, www.nmhmfsummit.org. This important forum will take place on April 26-27, 2005 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.

“This summit is about innovation and collaboration,” said NMHMF Executive Director Gary Puckrein. “Ending health disparities is paramount to ending the healthcare crisis facing communities. This national platform provides an important opportunity to shift the national debate and focus on evidenced-based solutions that deliver results.”

Minority Health Disparities: Are We Making Progress? is the theme of this year’s effort. The two-day summit will bring together physicians, Members of Congress, community organizations, policy-makers and industry leaders during April, nationally recognized as minority health month.

Online registration is available on the website at www.nmhmfsummit.org. The national summit is open to the public and the press. For more information, please contact Cleve Mesidor at (202) 223-7560 or via email at mesidor@nmhmfsummit.org.

National Minority Health Month Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the building of coalitions and evidence- based solutions towards elimination of health disparities.