News

UCSF to Host Second Health Disparities Research Symposium

October 22, 2008

UCSF will host the second annual Health Disparities Research Symposium on Oct. 24, showcasing the groundbreaking work of eight UCSF faculty.

The campus community is invited to attend the symposium and poster session, which highlights the work of another 70 UCSF researchers, on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Laurel Heights Auditorium.

Addressing the goal of contributing to the reduction in health disparities, as stated in the UCSF Strategic Plan, the UCSF Health Disparities Research Symposium II is part of the UCSF diversity celebration, a monthlong series of special events.

The symposium is sponsored by the UCSF Diversity Celebration Planning Committee and co-chaired by Barbara Gerbert, PhD, professor and chair of the Division of Behavioral Sciences, Professionalism and Ethics in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at the UCSF School of Dentistry; Eliseo Perez-Stable, MD, professor in the UCSF School of Medicine and director of UCSF Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations; and Victor Y. Fujimoto, MD, associate clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences in the UCSF School of Medicine.

Health disparities are defined as gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The definition of health disparities includes differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, and quality of and access to health care.

The symposium will showcase the breadth of both quantitative and qualitative research in diverse disciplines at UCSF. Organizers say one of the goals is to build community among health disparities researchers from various disciplines and across units, schools and campus sites.
“Understanding the mechanisms that lead to health disparities by race, ethnicity and social class will facilitate advances in knowledge about the basic biological, behavioral and social factors affecting health,” said Perez-Stable.

Seating at the symposium is almost at capacity and is being facilitated by Karen Newhouse, associate diversity director in the UCSF Office of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Please email karen.newhouse@ucsf.edu to reserve a spot.

Symposium Presentations

  1. “The Disproportionate Cost of Smoking for Communities of Color” by Hai-Yen Sung, PhD, associate adjunct professor, UCSF Institute for Health & Aging
  2. “Oral Health Disparities Research: The Fluoride Varnish Example from Clinical Trial to Health Policies” by Jane A. Weintraub, DDS, MPH, professor and chair, Division of Oral Epidemiology and Dental Public Health, UCSF School of Dentistry
  3. “The Impact of Language Barriers on Poor Glycemic Control Among Insured Latinos with Diabetes” by Alicia Fernandez, MD, associate professor of medicine, UCSF School of Medicine
  4. “Disparity in Outcomes of Surgical Revascularization for Limb Salvage: Race and Gender Are Synergistic Determinants of Vein Graft Failure and Limb Loss” by Michael S. Conte, MD, professor and chief, UCSF Division of Vascular Surgery, UCSF School of Medicine
  5. “Language, Literacy and Characterization of Stroke Among Patients Taking Warfarin for Stroke Prevention: Implications for Health Communication” by Margaret Fang, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine, UCSF School of Medicine
  6. “Challenges to Patient-Centered Care for Limited English Proficient Breast Cancer Patients” by Leah Karliner, MD, UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine
  7. “Self-Reported Race, Genetic African Ancestry and Chronic Kidney Disease in Young Adults: The CARDIA Study” by Carmen A. Peralta, MD, assistant adjunct professor in the Division of Nephrology, UCSF School of Medicine
  8. “Predictors of Unintended Pregnancy and Inadequate Birth Spacing: A Mixed Methods Approach” by Allison Bryant, MD, MPH, assistant adjunct professor, UCSF School of Medicine