Greetings, ISHIB members and friends! We are looking forward to an exciting year of unprecedented contact with our membership. We want you to be involved in the many activities ISHIB sponsors throughout the year. Future newsletters will highlight some exciting new initiatives we are preparing to undertake. Stay tuned for announcements of medical education opportunities and community-oriented endeavors. I am proud to serve as your president and feel honored to represent ISHIB. If you are not a member, I encourage you to join. If you are a member then I encourage you to recruit at least one other member to ISHIB. Our "tent" has ample room for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, pharmacists, social scientists, administrators, and lay persons. Contact us for information or assistance as you fight to reduce uncontrolled hypertension, control cardiovascular risk factors, and eliminate ethnic health disparities.
John M. Flack, MD, MPH
"Got a minute?" That's Michelle Basket, Program Manager. Michelle has been enthusiastically active in developing the Unite for Healthy Hearts! and Children are Our Messengers: Changing the Health Message programs. Dr. John McAdory describes Michelle as "a saving grace." Michelle has moved on to accept a fellowship with the CDC, but we are thankful to have had Michelle as one of the competent, hardworking, and dedicated staff at ISHIB. She says, "I'll be back!" And we can't wait. Best wishes, Michelle.
ISHIB2003 First NewsISHIB2003 will be held in Accra, Ghana, West Africa in June 22-25, 2003. The theme "Preventing the Global Pandemic in Developing Countries" focuses on strategies to contain or avert the epidemiologic cardiovascular transition. The primary focus areas include promoting cardiovascular health for all, preventing the development of CVD risk factors, primary and secondary prevention of major CVD, and building a locally-sustainable infrastructure for CVD and risk factor surveillance. Throughout, the essential roles of policy change, environmental supports, and population-based preventive strategies will be emphasized. Lifestyle interventions will be stressed, particularly for hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity. Organizers Drs. George Mensah (chair), Lawrence Agodoa, Albert Amoah, Walinjom Muna, and Kwame Osei (vice-chairs) are assembling an international faculty to develop an important congress which addresses disease impact and the relationship between developing and developed countries. The congress will be a must-attend for anyone interested in the global intrusion of heart disease. More information on ISHIB2003 is available at www.ishib.org. |
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The Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ATSDR have awarded ISHIB a funded grant for a project entitled "Comprehensive Treatment and Support Intervention for Diabetes." Dr. John Flack and Dr. Kenny Frontin will serve as Co-PIs, and Kermit Payne and Dr. Modele Ashaye will serve as Co-project managers. The research effort aims to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes and has been developed for a 3-year period.
The Specialist in Clinical Hypertension examination will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2003 from 1-5 p.m. at the conclusion of the 2003 ASH annual scientific meeting in New York City. For information on eligibility requirements, contact ASH at 212.696.9099. Applications will be mailed in December, and completed applications will be due in April 2003.
Eliminating healthcare disparities has long been the mantra of ISHIB. Members like you and your colleagues are responsible for increasing awareness around the world of issues in health disparities. We need you to continue to participate in this mission. Renew your membership or, if you are not currently a member, please join us. Even better, you can make a lifetime commitment by becoming a "Life Member" of ISHIB.
Please join our effort and get involved! Membership information is available online, or contact us at 404.875.6263. What a value life is!