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Mrs. Anissa Riley,

Office of External Affairs,School of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University

Tuskegee, AL 36088, (334)724-4509, FAX: (334)727-8177, Email: riley@tuskegee.edu

Tuskegee University Addresses HIV/AIDS in People of Color at the Annual Research Symposium and Lecture Series

by Anissa L. Riley

Tuskegee, AL -- Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health will host its 25th Annual Scholarly Events and Research Symposium and 22nd Annual Mary Stark Harper Lecture Series on March 20, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University’s Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care Auditorium. The event is co-sponsored by the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health and the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care. This year’s theme is ”A Call to Action: Addressing HIV/AIDS in People of Color.”

Joseph Inungu, MD, DrPH, is the keynote speaker for the Scholarly Events/Research Symposium. Dr. Inungu is the Director of External Relations at the Crystal M. College of Health and Human Services, Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. Over the past several years, he has conducted studies on HIV/AIDS in which studies have been published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Dr. Inungu’s presentation is entitled ”HIV/AIDS in People of Color: Is Another Wake-up Call Needed?”

Gwendolyn Childs, PhD, RN, will also be speaking as the Mary Starke Harper Lecturer. Dr. Childs is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing. Her research and clinical interest and her presentation include ”Adolescent Sexual Behavior” and ”HIV Prevention Amongst African American Adolescent Girls.”

”This year’s symposium has been designed with several objectives in mind for participants to be able to do by the end of the program. They include the following: 1) Discuss factors affecting minority health, related to HIV/AIDS including risk factor identification, education, interventions, prevention and treatment services; 2) Recognize barriers to healthcare and ways to improve access; 3) Describe the key components of Public Health/CDC’s response to the HIV/AIDS fight; 4) Discuss the challenges facing rural communities in America in reference to HIV/AIDS; and 5) Review principles of infection control for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and blood-borne pathogens,” said Program Committee Chair Dr. Cordelia Nnedu. Dr. Nnedu is an Associate Professor of Nursing/Coordinator for One Medicine and Project Director for the Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant in the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health where Dr. Doris S. Holeman is the Associate Dean.

The annual program is designed to be a continuing education effort to achieve scholarly excellence in the School of Nursing and Allied Health. Six contact hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for participants at a cost of $10.00.

Dr. Nnedu adds, ”The research and scholarly endeavors’ roles are to enhance the quality of life of the clients and the patients serviced as well as to educate the community and the students in the health care professions. The symposium also provides an opportunity for participants to examine and/or integrate ethical issues related to the health care dilemma. Faculty and students in attendance are given an opportunity to interact with clinicians, clinical researchers, administrators, and educators to establish a forum for discussing major health care issues.”

”The Annual Scholarly Events Research Symposium has a history of providing opportunities for faculty and students to interact with international scholars. And, this year will be no exception. The Annual Mary Stark Harper Lecture Series originally began as a way of honoring the innovative work of Tuskegee graduate Dr. Mary Stark Harper. Dr. Harper was a 1941 graduate of the nursing program, a gerontologist, and a world-renown expert on health issues. As a result, annually the forum provides research perspectives on social, political, and economical issues impacting health care. A major benefit for our faculty and students as well as community participants is the chance to interact with outstanding lecturers,” said Dr. Doris S. Holeman, Associate Dean of the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health and Director of the Nursing Program.

The public is not only invited but encouraged to attend. Lunch will also be served. Pre-registration is $35.00. Please make checks payable to the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health. For a registration form or for more information, please contact Dr. Nnedu at 334-727-8185 or ccnnedu@tuskegee.edu.