August 31, 2005
Genesis Lecture Series Presents Former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher
Davenport, IA – Former United States Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., will be the guest lecturer on Sunday, Oct. 9 at the RiverCenter as part of the Genesis Lecture Series.
The lecture will be held in conjunction with the NAACP Health Fair on Oct. 8.
Dr. Satcher’s presentation will be Elimination of Disparities in Health: Balancing the Community Health System. The event will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Hall of the Davenport RiverCenter. There will be no charge, but reservations for seating are being taken at 563-421-6276.
Dr. Satcher’s lecture will be followed by a public forum to continue the discussion of studies showing gaps in the access and delivery of health care to minorities.
A recent study co-authored by Dr. Satcher revealed that despite technological advances in medicine, the standard mortality rate for African-American men and infants worsened between 1960 and 2000. The study attributed 80,000 deaths to disparities or differences in the delivery of health care that could not be attributed to clinical needs or patient preferences.
The NAACP Health Fair will be held on Oct. 8 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Adler Education Center at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street.
Janice Edmunds-Wells, Minority Health Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Public Health, will be the guest speaker for the health fair event.
Dr. Satcher served as Surgeon General from 1998 to 2002 during the administration of President Clinton. He is now director of the National Center for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and continues to lecture on issues of suicide prevention, obesity and access to mental health care.
As surgeon general, Dr. Satcher became the nation’s spokesperson on such issues as youth violence, obesity, oral health, sexual health and suicide prevention.
One of nine children born to a mother without access to a hospital in rural Alabama -- two siblings died in childbirth – Dr. Satcher champions the cause of equal access to health care for all citizens.
“It has been clearly documented that there are differences in the way physicians respond to patients based on race in many cases,’’ Dr. Satcher said recently on NewsHour, the nightly news program on PBS. “While it is a difference that we see in other parts of our society; it is most disappointing when you see it in medicine. It is most unacceptable, and I think we should make that point that it’s unacceptable.’’
Lashon Moore, health committee chair of the Davenport Branch of the NAACP, said the health fair event will be the first of its kind in the Quad Cities. She said, “Area churches have done similar events that were very good but this will be the first time we’ve worked together as a community to have an event like this.
“The objective and hope is that the events will raise African-American awareness about health issues and promote alternative options to behaviors that put our health at risk. The event will also bring awareness to the African-American community about the health resources and organizations available in the community.’’
Among the exhibitors at the health fair on Oct. 8 will be the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Genesis Wellness Program, Palmer College of Chiropractic and the American Stroke Association.
