Welcome

Join us for the ABHP Minority Health Conference and ABHP Annual Meeting, May 16-18, 2008, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. Don't miss this unique opportunity to participate in a multidisciplinary conference focused on improving the lives for those at highest risk for poor health.

This conference will include timely educational programming on improving outcomes in special patient populations, contributed poster presentations, business meetings, and social and networking events. The conference will be accredited for continuing education for pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians. All programs and exhibits will be conveniently scheduled at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

We hope you will join us and look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!

Conference Overview

Life expectancy and overall health have improved in recent years for most Americans, thanks in part to an increased focus on preventive medicine and dynamic new advances in medical technology. However, not all Americans are benefiting equally. For too many racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, good health is elusive, since appropriate care is often associated with an individual's economic status, race, and gender.

Disparities in the burden of illnesses experienced by blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders, compared to the U.S. population as a whole demands national attention. Groups currently experiencing poorer health status are expected to grow as a proportion of the total U.S. population; therefore, the future health of America as a whole will be influenced substantially by improving the health of these racial and ethnic minorities.

Eliminating health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations is one of the goals of the Health People 2010 initiative. One cornerstone of efforts to improve health care and quality of life in minority populations is education of health care providers. While therapeutic goals and interventions for managing various diseases states are consistent among minority and non-minority patients, health care providers need an understanding of the cultural differences in the patient populations and specific strategies that can lead to improved patient outcomes. This conference is designed to educate health care practitioners about conditions ethnic groups may be predisposed to, understanding cultural differences when developing treatment plans, and providing the tools and information to ensure compliance and adherence.

Conference Goals

  • Educate health care providers on critical issues regarding minority health and the associated disparities in special patient populations.
  • Present new and emerging diagnostic and treatment modalities for managing diseases that impact minority populations.
  • Provide opportunities for skill building, information-sharing and networking.
  • Present research and statistics related to the current status of racial and ethnic health disparities and recommendations of solutions.
  • Provide a forum for the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and strategies to address health disparities among minority populations.
  • Provide attendees with the practical tools to improve outcomes for those at highest risk for poor health, including racial and ethnic minorities, and economically disadvantaged populations.

Click here for information on sessions.