Sept. 28, 2005 – In an effort to help people with diabetes, cancer and other diseases, the University of the Virgin Islands is sponsoring a two-day institute for health professionals and the public.
National and local experts will speak about diabetes, hypertension, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer at the University of the Virgin Islands Oct. 13 and 14 as part of an institute called "From Science to Service: A Roadmap for Confronting Health Disparities in the U.S. Virgin Islands."
The goals of the institute are to provide the public and health professionals with information about health disparities specific to the Virgin Islands, and to provide information about national initiatives that bring medicine and science to the public. The keynote speaker, Dr. Wilson, will talk about efforts to reduce disparities in health in various parts of the United States.
"Our concern is that people are not getting enough information to take care of their diseases," said Julia Hardwick, coordinator of UVI's Caribbean Export Center for Research and Education in Health Disparities, in a press release. "This is one way to make sure that we're getting them the information that they need to take care of themselves."
UVI's Caribbean Export Center for Research and Education in Health Disparities is funded by a National Institutes of Health grant the university received in 2004. The $1.1 million, three-year grant came from NIH's National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Speakers at the institute include doctors from several universities, including Johns Hopkins University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Pittsburgh, UVI and others.
Registration for the institute is $35 for one day or $50 for both days. The institute takes place at the Marriot Frenchman's Reef Resort, and it include breakfast and lunch both days. For more information or to register, call 693-1172.