Wednesday, July 10, 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Plenary Session: "Enhancing Diversity in the Health Professions"
Health care providers play a critical role in delivering services to racial and ethnic communities and are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking care and treatment. Many minority populations experience difficulties in finding health care providers who are able to communicate in their languages or who are able to understand and appreciate cultural differences. Many of these same populations experience poorer health outcomes. Historically, there has not been a strong minority presence in the health professions workforce, despite 40 years of efforts to recruit and retain minority health providers, especially in regions deemed health professions shortage areas. During that time, and even now, health disparities continue to widen. Increasing the number of minority health care providers is one way of addressing this barrier to health care. Are there others? Will a more diverse workforce eliminate health disparities? What must we do differently to achieve one?
Moderator: Gilberto Cardona, M.D., Regional Health Administrator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region II, New York, NY.
Panelists:
Pamela V. Hammond, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Dean, School of Nursing, Hampton University, Hampton, VA.
Rene F. Rodriguez, M.D., Founder and President, Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons, Washington, DC.
Maria L. Soto-Greene, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Education, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ.
