Feinstein Institute Hosts Seminar on Importance of Diversity in Science and Medicine
Manhasset, NY (PRWEB) October 18, 2013 -- In celebration of Diversity Awareness and Health Literacy Month, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Literacy will host an October 23rd event, “Partners In Health Care: Everyone Plays a Role,” in which experts will discuss the importance of diversity in science and how each of us can improve our health.
“It has been shown that having a diverse workforce in the area of research expands the arena of discovery science. It is important to not only have a diverse group of scientists, but for biomedical research it is critically important to have a diverse patient population participate in research,” said Betty Diamond, MD, investigator and head of the Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases at the Feinstein Institute. “Patients are different from each other; for example, they have different genetic backgrounds and react to treatments differently. By including a diverse patient population in our research studies, we not only tailor therapies better to patients and develop a new era of personalized medicine, but we also learn more about the overall biology of patients.”
The event will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Goldman International Conference Center at the Feinstein Institute, located at 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030. Complimentary refreshments and valet parking will be offered.
The keynote speaker, James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD, the chief executive officer and chief medical officer of Healing Our Village, Inc., and clinical professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and Indiana University School of Medicine, will discuss the importance of diversity in the development of new medicines, diagnostics and treatments. The keynote presentation will be followed by a panel discussion, which will be moderated by Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, chief diversity and inclusion officer and senior vice president of North Shore-LIJ’s Office of Community and Public Health. Panel participants are Elena V. Rios, MD, MSPH, president & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association and president of the National Hispanic Health Foundation; Thomas B. Rich, RN, NP, chair of the Nassau Community College Nursing Department, and Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
“Our ultimate goal is to partner with our communities to inform, enable, empower and incentivize people to make impactful behavior changes that will allow them to take an active role in their health and well-being, and live a healthier lifestyle,” said Dr. Mieres.
Prior registration is required for this event. To register, please e-mail DIHL(at)nshs(dot)edu.
About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is home to international scientific leaders in many areas including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, human genetics, pulmonary hypertension, leukemia, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, ranks in the top 6th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers. For more information, visit http://www.FeinsteinInstitute.org.
Emily Ng, North Shore-LIJ Health System, http://www.northshorelij.com/, +1 (516) 465-2600, [email protected]
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