November 8, 2005

Recently, Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom joined a distinguished panel of health experts and national media to discuss the effects of media on women’s health. The event, “Women’s Health: The Press and Public Policy” was hosted by the Knight-Wallace Fellows Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on November 7.

“I am truly honored to be included among these remarkable women’s health experts and some of our nation’s top journalists here today,” Wisdom said. “The need for attention to women’s health is growing more important everyday.”

In her opening remarks, Wisdom talked about her role as the State's first Surgeon General and the nation's first and only state-level surgeon general. She also discussed the State’s efforts to continue to improve overall health women’s priority issues such as unintended pregnancy and obesity/chronic disease.

Other speakers included Susan F. Wood, Ph.D, former director of the Office of Women’s Health at the Food and Drug administration; Vivian W. Pinn, M.D., director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health; and Joanne Silberner, health policy correspondent for National Public Radio.

Since her appointment in 2003, Wisdom has focused on issues central to the state of Michigan’s health such as obesity, diabetes, and tobacco use and in 2004, Wisdom released the Healthy Michigan 2010: Surgeon General’s Health Status Report and the Michigan Surgeon General’s Prescription for a Healthier Michigan. In February 2005, she launched Michigan Steps Up, a statewide healthy lifestyles campaign designed to improve the health of Michigan citizens by encouraging everyone to move more, eat better and avoid tobacco use.

The Knight-Wallace at Michigan, the hosts of the event, provides outstanding mid-career journalists the opportunity to indulge in a sabbatical year of study and reflection. The program's largest institutional supporter is the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and its largest individual supporter is Mike Wallace, the legendary correspondent from CBS's “60 Minutes”.

For more information about Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom or other state of Michigan health programs please visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdch.