UMSL’s College of Nursing will sponsor the sixth annual African American Nursing Conference Feb. 15 at the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center on UMSL’s North Campus. The conference will focus on minority health issues. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The sixth annual African American Nursing History Conference, sponsored by the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will explore health-care disparities, health-care equity and health-care promotion through awareness and action by providing free health-care screenings to the community.
The conference’s theme is “Health Disparities – Call to Action.” It will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center on UMSL’s North Campus. The conference aims to put a renewed focus on diseases such as cancer (breast, colon, prostate, cervical), HIV/AIDS, lupus, sickle cell, Crohn’s disease, alcohol and substance abuse, kidney and heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and their impact on the African American community.
“Minorities have higher incidences of chronic diseases, higher mortality and poorer health outcomes,” said Vanessa Loyd, director of continuing education and outreach and an assistant teaching professor of nursing at UMSL. “To address health-care disparities, health-care equity and health-care promotion, it takes organizational community involvement by increasing awareness and action.”
The conference will feature keynote speakers from the St. Louis community, including Melba Moore, St. Louis City Health commissioner, and Dr. Delores Gunn, director of the St. Louis County Health Department.
The conference site will offer free health screenings from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Health screenings include weight, blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, glucose, kidney, cholesterol, prostate, asthma, sickle cell, mental health, vision and EKG. The health screenings are available separately from the conference. No registration or fee is required to take part in the free health screenings.
Individuals interested in attending the conference must register for the conference. The registration fee is $30 or $25 for high school students and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
The conference is targeted for nurses and other health-care professionals, as well as future nurses, high school students and especially those in the community who have been “Call(ed) to Action” in addressing health-care disparities, health-care equity and health-care promotion.
The registration deadline is Feb. 10. To register or for more information visit the pcs.umsl.edu/aanhc or call 314-516-5655.
