The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control, Health Disparities Reduction and Minority Health Section in partnership with the Commission to End Healthcare Disparities is pleased to announce the first statewide Health Disparities Conference entitled, Addressing Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities through Public Policy: Exploring Effective Strategies . The conference is scheduled to take place on Oct. 21-22, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit.

The conference will feature national speakers and workshops exploring effective public health strategies, policies and business practices that impact health disparities at the local, state, and national levels. Those attending the conference include public health and health care professionals, community organizations, and academic and government officials.

The Commission to End Healthcare Disparities, a collaboration of the American Medical Association, the National Medical Association, and the National Hispanic Medical Association will convene the conference on Oct. 21. MDCH Director Janet Olszewski and the Commission co-chairs, Ronald M. Davis, M.D. and Sandra Gadson, M.D. will provide remarks at the event. Information covered on day one will emphasize the role of physicians in addressing health disparities pertaining to education and training, work force diversity, advocacy and policy, and data and information.

MDCH is hosting day two of the conference on Oct. 22. The opening session will feature remarks by Jean Chabut, Deputy Director, Public Health Administration, and Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D., Michigan's Surgeon General. Brian Smedley, Ph.D, Research Director for The Opportunity Agenda, will deliver the keynote address. Day two will focus on the role of public policy, public health practices, including prevention in addressing racial and ethnic health disparities.

For more information about the conference, please contact Jacquetta Hinton, conference chairperson at (313) 456-4414 or at hintonjac@michigan.gov.