ISHIB Insider

ISHIB2003 - New Dates Announced

ISHIB has announced that the 18th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension and Related Risk Factors in Ethnic Populations (ISHIB2003), which was originally scheduled for June 2003, will now be held in Accra, Ghana during December 7-10, 2003. The abstract submittal deadline has been extended to August 14, 2003.

The meeting, postponed in March because of global uncertainty, will focus on strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa, the only place on earth where cardiovascular disease is not the leading cause of death. The prevalence of CVD risk factors in these countries is becoming increasingly identical to that observed in developed nations. Sessions of the ISHIB2003 conference will focus on these primary areas: 1) promotion of cardiovascular health for all populations; 2) the prevention of cardiovascular disease risk factors; 3) primordial and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease; and 4) development of a locally sustainable infrastructure for cardiovascular disease and risk factor surveillance. The conference will also emphasize partnerships between private organizations, public agencies, and international foundations committed to the prevention and control of disease in developing countries and the epidemiologic transition in sub-Saharan Africa.

The conference will disseminate information on the latest research on prevention approaches for hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity, overweight, and other behavioral and lifestyle choices.

George A. Mensah, MD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cardiovascular Health Branch, serves as chair of the scientific planning committee for the meeting. Albert G. B. Amoah, MD, PhD, from the University of Ghana Medical School in Accra serves as vice-chair of the planning committee, along with Lawrence Agodoa, MD (United States), Walinjom F.T. Muna, MD, PhD (Cameroon), and Kwame Osei, MD (United States). This committee has assembled a global faculty who will explore the role of policy change, environmental supports, and population-based preventive strategies.

We look forward to seeing you in Ghana in December!

ISHIB has entered a partnership entitled "Managing Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans: Emerging Strategies for Optimizing Care." The program, comprising multiple components, will address the benefits of combination therapy, including ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, and the important issue that optimal care for African-American patients is not being realized. This initiative is supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

The program is being conducted in 3 U.S. cities: Miami (a successful event already held in early May), Philadelphia (August), and Dallas (September). Program components include continuing medical education, faith-based community education, risk-factor assessment, and leaders' form and town hall meeting. The community-based activities were developed under the Unite for Healthy Hearts model, as debuted in Miami in June 2002. Objectives of the program include:

Define the disproportionate burden of heart disease in African-American patients.
Explore the factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in African-Americans with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and heart failure.
Provide no-cost cardiovascular risk assessment for participants.
Formulate comprehensive strategies to improve health outcomes in this high-risk population, with an emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship and patient education.

If you live in the Dallas or Philadelphia areas and would like to be a part of these programs, contact Darren Baylor at 404.875.6263 or darren-baylor@ishib.org. Let us unite your community for healthy hearts; contact ISHIB about initiating a program in your area.

Ronnie Henry and Christopher Fitzpatrick discuss ISHIB programs.

Ethnicity & Disease is the official journal of ISHIB. Subscribe today.

	Volume 2, Number 4 May 2003
ISHIB2003 - New Dates Announced ISHIB has announced that the 18th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on Hypertension and Related Risk Factors in Ethnic Populations (ISHIB2003), which was originally scheduled for June 2003, will now be held in Accra, Ghana during December 7-10, 2003. The abstract submittal deadline has been extended to August 14, 2003. The meeting, postponed in March because of global uncertainty, will focus on strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa, the only place on earth where cardiovascular disease is not the leading cause of death. The prevalence of CVD risk factors in these countries is becoming increasingly identical to that observed in developed nations. Sessions of the ISHIB2003 conference will focus on these primary areas: 1) promotion of cardiovascular health for all populations; 2) the prevention of cardiovascular disease risk factors; 3) primordial and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease; and 4) development of a locally sustainable infrastructure for cardiovascular disease and risk factor surveillance. The conference will also emphasize partnerships between private organizations, public agencies, and international foundations committed to the prevention and control of disease in developing countries and the epidemiologic transition in sub-Saharan Africa. The conference will disseminate information on the latest research on prevention approaches for hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity, overweight, and other behavioral and lifestyle choices. George A. Mensah, MD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cardiovascular Health Branch, serves as chair of the scientific planning committee for the meeting. Albert G. B. Amoah, MD, PhD, from the University of Ghana Medical School in Accra serves as vice-chair of the planning committee, along with Lawrence Agodoa, MD (United States), Walinjom F.T. Muna, MD, PhD (Cameroon), and Kwame Osei, MD (United States). This committee has assembled a global faculty who will explore the role of policy change, environmental supports, and population-based preventive strategies. We look forward to seeing you in Ghana in December!	ISHIB2003 December 7-10, 2003 Abstract submittal deadline: August 14 To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a blank email to insider@ishib.org.
African-American Initiative on Managing Cardiovascular Disease ISHIB has entered a partnership entitled "Managing Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans: Emerging Strategies for Optimizing Care." The program, comprising multiple components, will address the benefits of combination therapy, including ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, and the important issue that optimal care for African-American patients is not being realized. This initiative is supported by GlaxoSmithKline. The program is being conducted in 3 U.S. cities: Miami (a successful event already held in early May), Philadelphia (August), and Dallas (September). Program components include continuing medical education, faith-based community education, risk-factor assessment, and leaders' form and town hall meeting. The community-based activities were developed under the Unite for Healthy Hearts model, as debuted in Miami in June 2002. Objectives of the program include: Define the disproportionate burden of heart disease in African-American patients. Explore the factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in African-Americans with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and heart failure. Provide no-cost cardiovascular risk assessment for participants. Formulate comprehensive strategies to improve health outcomes in this high-risk population, with an emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship and patient education. If you live in the Dallas or Philadelphia areas and would like to be a part of these programs, contact Darren Baylor at 404.875.6263 or darren-baylor@ishib.org. Let us unite your community for healthy hearts; contact ISHIB about initiating a program in your area.	Prescriptions for Health upcoming show topics: 5/28: Hypertension and Sexual Dysfunction 6/4: HIV/AIDS in Minority Communities 6/11: Obesity 6/18: Diabetes 6/25: Prostate Cancer Tune in to WCLK - 91.9 FM in Atlanta Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. www.wclk.com
ISHIB Presence at ASH Conference The annual ASH/ISHIB symposium took place May 15 during the annual American Society of Hypertension (ASH) conference May 14-16, 2003, in New York, N.Y. The symposium, titled Addressing Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertension in Special Populations According to Gender, Age, and Race, was chaired by Suzanne Oparil, MD and Elijah Saunders, MD. Lectures included "Women's Health Initiative: the Role of Blood Pressure" by Martha N. Hill, RN, PhD; "Hypertension Outcomes" by Daniel W. Jones, MD; and "Female Hormones and Renal Sodium Handling" by Michel Burnier, MD. ISHIB was also represented in the exhibit hall at the conference. Traffic at the ISHIB booth was high, with visits from ISHIB members and trustees, as well as numerous ASH delegates new to ISHIB but interested in ethnic health disparities. Among the many topics of discussion at the ISHIB booth, visitors were most interested in the rescheduled dates of ISHIB2003 (December 7-10, 2003) and ISHIB's recently published guidelines on treating hypertension in African-Americans. ISHIB would like to thank all those who visited the booth and to congratulate ASH on another successful meeting. Ronnie Henry and Christopher Fitzpatrick discuss ISHIB programs.	Ethnicity & Disease is the official journal of ISHIB. Subscribe today.
Journal of Rural Health: Call for Manuscripts A special focus issue of the Journal of Rural Health is planning to examine health issues concerning minorities and multicultural populations living in rural areas. Featured manuscripts will cover preventive care, primary care, mental health, and women's issues as they relate to these communities. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) encourages all professionals working diligently for and with rural racial and ethnic minority and multicultural communities to submit a manuscript for this special issue. The published manuscripts will assist health care providers and others in understanding the cultural differences and help define the relative importance of each of the variables on rural minority and multicultural health status. The resources, case studies, research, policy, practice techniques, and other types of manuscripts will be instrumental in eliminating health disparities for rural minority and multicultural populations. Manuscripts are now being solicited by the NRHA. Deadline for manuscripts is September 30, 2003. All manuscripts are peer reviewed and potential contributors should familiarize themselves with the journal. For more information, contact NRHA Minority Affairs Liaison and Program Services Manager, Rosemary McKenzie at 816.756.3140 or rmckenzie@nrharural.org.	ISHIB Links About ISHIB Programs Information for Patients Information for Healthcare Professionals Research
Member Spotlight: Daniel W. Jones, MD Dr. Daniel W. Jones will become vice-chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on July 1. "Dan Jones enjoys the unqualified respect of the Medical Center community as well as national and international health scientists, scholars, and practitioners. His impeccable record as a practitioner, medical missionary, researcher, and administrator assures that he will provide inspired, visionary leadership for the University of Mississippi Medical Center," said UM Chancellor Robert Khayat. A fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Jones is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is designated as a specialist in clinical hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension Specialists. Named one of the Best Doctors in America in 1998 and 2002, he received the Department of Medicine's 1997 Teacher of the Year Award. He also holds the Consortium of Southeastern Hypertension Center's 1997 Service Award and the Consortium's Hoechst Marion Roussel Young Investigator Award. Dr. Jones has been a member of ISHIB since 1993 and has served on the editorial board of Ethnicity & Disease since 2000. ISHIB congratulates Dr. Jones on his new appointment.	Daniel W. Jones, MD; University of Mississippi Medical Center
ISHIB is pleased to welcome the following new members: Cheryl Armstead, MD; Columbia, S.C. - Richard S. Baker, MD; Los Angeles, Calif. - Shelley Cooper-Ashford; Seattle, Wash. - Ebenezer Frans, MD; New York, N.Y. - Louis T. Kanda, MD; Washington, D.C.