December 08, 2009
links for 2009-12-08
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Finding Answers: Disparities Research for Change, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) at the University of Chicago, is awarding more than $1.5 million to seven organizations that are working to eliminate racial and ethnic health care disparities in their communities.
Each of the final seven grant recipients will receive up to $258,500 to evaluate their proposed interventions aimed at reducing disparities in the health outcomes of patients in their communities. Grantees will focus on cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes; diseases where evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in care is strong and the recommended standards of care are clear.
Dr. Regina Benjamin noted that the proportion of U.S. physicians who are minorities is only 6 percent -- the same proportion as a century ago. ... The numbers come from a 2004 estimate of the percentage of U.S. physicians that are black or Hispanic. Blacks and Hispanics account for roughly 28 percent of the U.S. population, according to 2008 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. In a 27-minute speech, Benjamin told health leaders in the audience to encourage young minorities to pursue careers in medicine or other ambitions" (Stobbe, 12/3)
"Many African-American women don't fit the profile of the average American woman who gets breast cancer. For them, putting off the first mammogram until 50 — as recommended by a government task force — could put their life in danger
Albion's 530 students are part of a nationwide effort to combat obesity called "Fuel Up to Play 60" that is sponsored by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council. The school is one of 20 in the state that will receive $5,000 in grants this year to expand the program at their institution.Rocky River Middle School and North Olmsted Middle School are also receiving the additional grant money this year.
Fuel up to Play, launched in October, is designed to give school children a voice in developing nutrition and fitness programs in their schools. The program's major goals are to make more healthy foods available in schools and to encourage the kids to be physically active for 60 minutes a day.