OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will host the Eighth Annual Diversity Conference, "Diversity, Equity and Access to Health Care: Issues, Disparities and Challenges in the 21st Century," Oct. 5-6.

"I wanted the conference to bring to light some of our most compelling questions and concerns about health care," said Forrest Crawford, WSU's assistant to the president for diversity. "Many citizens grapple with these issues on a daily basis."

The keynote speaker for this year's event will be former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard H. Carmona, who finished his four-year term in July. His presentation, "Eliminating Health Disparities and Increasing Health Literacy," will be Oct. 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center.

Michelle Chino, director of the American Indian Research and Education Center and the Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy, as well as an associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, will share her perspective on issues and challenges in public health care at an open house Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Weber State University Davis (2750 N. University Park Blvd., Layton). She also will open the Oct. 6 events with her remarks about health care equality at 9 a.m. in the Austad Auditorium, Browning Center.

Other topics to be discussed at the conference include panels focused on community health concerns, student health care, alternatives to traditional medical treatment, minority health care, health care reform and issues facing health care providers. Public health information booths also will be available in the Shepherd Union Gallery.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information on the conference, contact the Diversity Office at (801) 626-6196.

Diversity Conference Speakers' Biographies:

Dr. Richard H. Carmona
Carmona became the 17th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service on Aug. 5, 2002.
He has worked in several positions in health care including paramedic, registered nurse and physician. Carmona is an American College of Surgeons fellow and is certified in correctional health care and quality assurance.
 
Before becoming the Surgeon General, he chaired the Southern Regional Emergency Medical System for the State of Arizona, taught at the University of Arizona as a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine, and served as the Pima County Sheriff's Department surgeon and deputy sheriff.

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