RCMI Programs in Puerto Rico Host 10th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities

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Source: RCMI Medical Sciences Campus The 10th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities took place on December 13 - 16, 2006 at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over 650 participants from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and the United States attended the meeting. Keynote speakers included Dr. Barbara Alving, Acting Director of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), NIH; Dr. Sidney A. McNairy Jr., Associate Director for Research Infrastructure, NCRR, NIH; Dr. Antonia C. Novello, Commissioner of Health, State of New York; Dr. Eric Hoffman, Director, Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s Research Institute, Washington, DC, and Dr. Benjamin Littenberg, Henry and Carleen Tufo Professor of Medicine and Nursing, University of Vermont. Dr. Loiuse E. Ramm, Deputy Director, National Center for Research Resources, NIH, and Dr. John Ruffin, Director, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIH, addressed the audience during the opening ceremonies. The Greenwood Award for Research Excellence was presented by Dr. Keith Norris to Dr. Margarita Alegría, Senior Scientist, Harvard University, for an outstanding career in behavioral and health services research in minority populations. Dr. James Gavin, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Emory University, received the Greenwood Award for Service Excellence in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the development of research and research careers in minority institutions. The awards, presented by the RCMI Program Directors' Association, are named in honor of the late Dr. Frederick C. Greenwood, who worked intensively to increase the ranks of minority scientists and to promote research on health issues that affect ethnic minorities. The first day of the meeting was dedicated to workshops on research ethics, proteomics, grant writing and technology transfer. These were followed during the next three days by over 30 keynote or special presentations, 100 oral presentations and 230 poster presentations in topics related to translational research, cancer, HIV, heart disease, diabetes, gender disparities, environmental health, asthma, reproductive health, neuroscience, oral health and drug abuse. The afternoon session on the last day of the conference focused on the Clinical Research Education and Career Development (CRECD) Program. CRECD trainees had the opportunity to share their research findings in both oral and poster presentation formats. The 10th International Symposium on Health Disparities was organized locally by the RCMI Programs at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, Universidad Central del Caribe and Ponce School of Medicine, with the collaboration of other RCMI Programs in the United States. The Office of Continuing Education at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine designated this educational activity for a maximum of 17.5 Category I credits toward the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician's Award.