National experts will convene in San Diego September 19-21, 2002 to discuss issues and opportunities surrounding ethnic diversity in medical research, from the design of studies examining health issues in diverse populations, to the participation of volunteers in these studies.

The program will include a review of historical and current issues, and workshops to develop strategies for expanding research opportunities and enhancing participation by people with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in clinical studies.

"Needs and Strategies Diversity Symposium: Enriching Medical Discovery" is co-sponsored by the Association of American Indian Physicians, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Medical Association, the Union of Pan Asian Communities, the University of California Office of the President and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine.

This symposium will build upon last year's "Needs and Strategies Diversity Symposium: Enhancing Diversity in Healthcare Delivery and Education." Co-chairs of the symposium are Sandra Daley, M.D., Assistant Dean of Student Development at Director of the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the UCSD School of Medicine, and Sandra Perez, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice in National City, California.

Among the program highlights:

* Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and CEO of the California Endowment, will give a luncheon address entitled "Diversity: Health Care's Untapped Resource."

* Clifton A. Poodry, Ph.D., director of the Division of Minority Opportunities in Research of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, will participate in discussion of "The Continued Need for Research to Address Healthcare Disparities."

* David E. Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Director for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, UCLA, will deliver a dinner address on "Science Based Research on Diversity."

* Cultural expressions will be offered throughout the symposium to enhance participants' understanding of each of the represented groups and their traditions.

* A representative from the National Library of Medicine will present an overview of resources.

Other special guests and presenters include the leaders of each of the sponsoring national medical societies--Ben Muneta, M.D., AAIP, Lucille Norville Perez, NMA, and Elena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H. and Mitsuo Tomita, M.D., UPAC. Also, Kaytura Felix Aaron, M.D., Senior Medical Officer of the Center for Primary Care Research, Agency for Health Research and Quality, Washington, D.C.,; and Ahmed Calvo, M.D., Medical Director of the San Ysidro Health Center.

Also, Jeffrey A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., President and CEO of the Black Hills Center for American Indian Health in South Dakota, Rodney G. Hood, M.D., Immediate Past President of the National Medical Association, Rodger Lum, Director of Health and Human Services for San Diego County; and Laura A. Williams, M.D., M.P.H., Project Director, California Office of the Association of American Indian Physicians.

Participating from UCSD are Chancellor Robert C. Dynes; Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Edward H. Holmes; Deputy Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences David N. Bailey; Robert Langer, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Lucille Pearson, C.I.P., Deputy Director of the Human Research Protections Program.

The symposium will be held at the Catamaran Resort Hotel. Continuing Medical Education credit is available. Registration is $250, with students asked to pay $25. Click here for detailed information on the symposium and registration or call (858) 534-3940 or toll free (888) 229-6263.