NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION   NHMA NET November 2009

Washington, DC

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

On Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved sweeping health care reform legislation that was historic, with a vote of 220 - 215. 

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and Representative Henry Waxman, Representative Rangel, and Representative Miller came together to introduce their bill, "Affordable Health Care for America Act" (H.R. 3962) that is a great start to making health care more affordable and accessible to all Americans.

 

The bill will include insurance protections and expanded Medicaid to 200% of FPL and Puerto Rico in the health insurance exchange, that will allow all residents in the nation to purchase insurance, will add no new verification procedures for health insurance, will add comprehensive benefits plan that includes physical, mental health, vision and oral health, National Strategies for Prevention including racial and ethnic health disparities with the Office of Minority Health coordinating efforts and new State and local community prevention grants and comparative effectiveness research, National Strategies for Workforce Development with expanded HCOP and COE programs to increase Hispanics in the health professions, new interdisciplinary cultural competence training programs, new focus on primary care, including bonuses, and expanded residency slots and training in clinics and other focused areas to reduce health disparities – data collection mandated for race, ethnicity and language preference, required activities for the new prevention and workforce and quality care agendas (information technology, quality measures and value based purchasing for hospitals and doctors).

NHMA announced its support of HR 3962 on November 5^th and is on Speaker Pelosi' website!

The Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition’s (NHMA is a member) letter included support for the House Bill because it will empower communities toward improved health as it includes cultural competency and linguistic appropriateness provisions, empowerment zones, workforce diversity, Office of Minority Health, Office on Women’s Health, Indian Health Services, data collection and reporting; and improves quality and health literary; strengthens and expands the health workforce; and ensures consumers’ real access and real choice.  Overall, the bill expands the health industry and will grow jobs and the economy… and urged Speaker Pelosi to include a National Strategy to End Race and Ethnic-based Health Disparities. Of note, we have worked with REDHC to support the Office of Minority Health that was included in the priorities of the Obama Administration HHS Budget FY2010 last month and in Speaker Pelosi’s Manager Amendment to the House of Representatives Health Reform Bill.

Latinos United for Healthcare Reform, a new national grassroots campaign effort was started last month by The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda or NHLA (NHMA is a member). NHLA has been advocating for health care policies that increase access to Hispanics – by extending care to Puerto Rico and by lifting the 5 year ban to legal immigrants as well as decreasing health disparities and discrimination, increasing Hispanics in the workforce and prevention programs and health services in our communities. We encourage you to visit the LUH website and join the campaign for better health care!

AARP SegundoJuventud Magazine Nov. 2009 Issue – “House Bill Would Help Hispanics Access Health Care” includes quotes - "It's a tremendous movement forward," says Elena Rios, M.D., president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association. The bill's subsidies, grants, and insurance reforms, she says, will mean greater access to health care and prevention programs.

The bill is “change the American people urgently need,” according to Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus,. “Too many Americans, including one in three Hispanics, lack medical coverage.”

NHMA has increased its work with media this year as we have increased our linkages with TV, radio, newspapers and websites ---this week we were in the Washington Post article on Hispanic advocacy for immigrants in health reform, CNN en Espanol, AM New York Newspaper, and on the NPR website from the Morning Edition Sept. 23^rd interview and more….we welcome media to work with us to increase the education of the public about health care reform needed for our Hispanic communities ---affordable insurance with more health services and prevention (community based) that is provided by Hispanic physicians and workforce, with Health IT that includes language services, and health disparities and cultural competence coordinated by the HHS Office of Minority Health!

NHMA PROGRAM UPDATE

NHMA convened a Congressional Briefing on Health Care Reform and Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities  on October 20^th at the Rayburn House Office Building to educate Federal staff and national advocates ---with our partners, the National Medical Association, the Association of Hispanic Nurses, the National Black Nurses, and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Forum and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – Representative Grijalva, Congressional Black Caucus – Representative Donna Christensen, and Congressional Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus – Representative Mike Honda. All expressed their priorities and concern that the health reform legislative efforts should include the health care disparities priorities above and more…. Of note, the Congressmen all were optimistic that health reform would help our communities and urged our support for the House bill ---fighting against more verification and for lifting the 5 year ban for authorized immigrants and to promote minority health priorities throughout the bill. (This bill did pass on Nov. 7^th)

NHMA 14^th ANNUAL CME CONFERENCE: “Health Care Transformation to Increase Prevention and Health Promotion for Hispanic Communities”

Capitol Hill Visits and Opening Reception on March 25^th

March 26^th  and 27^th – Plenary and Workshop Sessions

Invited Plenary Speakers – US DHHS Secretary Sebelius, CDC Director Dr. Frieden, HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN

Congressional Roundtable with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal Allard, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, and Congressman Mike Honda

Corporate, Media and Physician Leaders on Hispanic patient care, medical education curriculum for cultural competence, research, and policy – especially health care reform efforts

Gala Awards Dinner on March 27^th with Keynote Speaker, US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD and our Hispanic Leadership Awardees, including leaders impacting on Hispanic health from the Obama Administration, academia, corporate sector, the NHMA Physicians and Fellow of the Year and the presidents of Hispanic medical societies and health professions organizations

March 28^th Special Session on “Cultural Competence and Medical Education” with updates from the Joint Commission, AAMC, ACGME and others

NHMA and AAMC Present our Annual PreMedical Student Recruitment to Medical School Lecture and Fair –like last year we hope to have 45 medical school recruiters attend to counsel high school, college students, parents and counselors about how to increase your chances of becoming a Doctor for the Hispanic community!

Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC - March 25-28^th, 2010

For more information on Sponsorship, Exhibits, Research Posters for Faculty, Residents and Medical, and other Health Professional Students, and Registration go to www.nhmamd.org or call the NHMA Office at 202-628-5895

NHMA and its Medical Societies and Hispanic Health Professional Associations PORTAL – www.hispanichealth.info – is being built for providers who care for Hispanic patients to find resources, information in the news on Hispanic health, research opportunities as well as our Calendar of Hispanic Health

NHMA AND THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE 1 YEAR PARTNERSHIP – to empower the NHMA Council of Medical Societies and Members about Alzheimer’s disease which impacts Hispanic patients greater than non-Hispanics and is on the rise and to assist the groups with referral to the AA prevention campaign. Latinos have greater rates of vascular disease from diabetes and  hypertension which may be a reason for higher rates of this dementia.

NHMA AND THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ANNOUNCE 3 YEAR PARTNERSHIP to build Hispanic physician cancer efforts ----to increase awareness of Hispanic cancer patient treatment and research as well as to encourage physicians and medical student members to pursue cancer careers.  NHMA works through the REDES EN ACCION to focus on cancer efforts and advocacy for cancer policy.

NHMA AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH  ANNOUNCE 5 YEAR PARTNERSHIP - PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP NHMA to focus its efforts to develop leadership potential and skills through regional meetings at the Hispanic Medical Society meetings and to establish the NHMA Council of Residents and its calendar of regional events for increased mentoring with NHMA leaders. In addition, NHMA plans to develop a Leadership Institute at its Annual Conference to develop more Hispanic health professional leaders for the Hispanic Health Professional Associations and the Residents and Medical Student members of NHMA.

 

NHMA NETWORKS UPDATE

NHMA COUNCIL OF MEDICAL SOCIETIES - Chairman, Alfonso Vargas, MD, New Orleans and Bles Dones, NHMA Membership Director and Dr. Rios, NHMA president & ceo convened a meeting of the NHMA medical societies to discuss their efforts to work together to provide CME meetings and events on the Calendar, content on diabetes and obesity on the NHMA HispanicHealth.info portal.

NHMA COUNCIL OF RESIDENTS - Chairman, John Paul Sanchez, MD and PGY1 and Dr. Rios, NHMA president & ceo hosted a reception and meeting to organize the New York and New Jersey area Hispanic residents.  The goal is to bring together Resident Coordinators from regional areas across the nation to the NHMA Annual Conference in March in Washington, DC. NHMA plans to begin a mentorship program for residents to assist them with their career advancement to improve the health care delivery to Hispanics across the nation. Thanks to Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford for supporting the event at the New York Academy of Medicine.

NHMA encourages Physicians, Residents and Medical Students interested in Hispanic health policy advocacy to join NHMA by going to our website: www.nhmamd.org home page, on the right ---Advocacy and send in your letter to support Health Care Reform that will improve access to care for Latinos across the nation! We encourage you to join as a member so that we can invite you to our Regional Networking Events!

Elena Rios, MD addressed the following audiences this month to educate leaders about the importance of health care reform and the impact on Hispanic health care ---the areas covered include 1. Coverage Expansion, 2. Quality of Health Care Policy with an emphasis on health care disparities for Hispanics, 3. Prevention programs for Communities, and 4 Workforce to expand primary care and cultural competence

 

UMDNJ - University of New Jersey Medical School Medicine Grand Rounds and President’s Reception for UMDNJ Schools

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hispanic Heritage Speaker in Baltimore

 

Institute of Medicine Health Disparities Roundtable Meeting

 

Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Miami Dade Medical Society and Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce

 

University of Miami faculty and students with NHMA Board Member, Dr. Onelia Lage and NHMA Fellow, Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo

 

Spanish American Medical and Dental Society of NY Annual Meeting in NYC

 

National Association of Latino Elected Officials Health Disparities Meeting in Miami

 

Institute of Medicine, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Homeland Security Meeting on Emergency Preparedness (and Hispanic communities)

 

Council of Chairs, State Hispanic Caucuses Annual Meeting in Chicago

 

Kaiser Permanente Annual Diversity Conference in San Francisco

 

Thanks to Dr. Ciro Sumaya for addressing the University of Louisiana Grand Rounds and the NHMA partner, the Hispanic Medical Society of New Orleans and for his media interviews this month on health reform

 

Thanks to Dr. Carole Brosgart and Dr. Onelia Lage for addressing the American Teachers Federation on Hispanic health and health reform and adolescent health issues

 

Thanks to Dr. Flavia Mercado for developing the commissioned paper and new ads campaign with the NHMA partner, the Dairy Council

 

Thanks to Dr. Marisa Herran for representing NHMA at the AAP Annual Conference and in projects to expand the focus on Hispanic children’s health

 

Thanks to Dr. Leo Lopez and Dr. Richard Zapanta for their coordination of the Whittier and Los Angeles Area NHMA Networking Reception ---with over 80 physicians and medical students and colleagues in attendance to learn about NHMA and health reform, supported by Wellpoint of California

NHMA’s Foundation, The National Hispanic Health Foundation - Invites you to its Sixth Annual New York Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Gala Dinner - Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York City, Thursday, December 3, 2009, 6 PM-Reception;

7 PM- Dinner, and 9 PM -12AM - Salsa Dance to the music of The New Swing Sextet.

Ten student scholars in medical, nursing, dental, public health and policy schools in NY and NJ will be honored for their outstanding academic record, leadership and commitment to providing health care to Hispanics.  We invite the health community to support this great cause and to join us in celebration of our New York area Leaders and Future Leaders!!!

 

Hispanic Health Leadership Awardees for 2009 include:

Anna Carbonell, Vice President, Station, NBC and Telemundo

 

Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., Dean, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

 

George Thibault, M.D., President, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation

 

RSVP by Monday, November 30, 2009 to David at (212) 992-8706 or

david.caicedo@nyu.edu or register online at www.nhmafoundation.org

 

Thanks to the NHHF Board of Directors and Scholarship Dinner Organizing Committee ---NHMA Fellows and Friends for helping us to plan for a successful scholarship program to honor health professional students in the NY and NJ area in December.  Thanks to our Sponsors (partial list) – United Health Foundation, NYU School of Medicine, Empire Blue Cross, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Pfizer Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi Aventis, Abbott, and NHMA. For information on Sponsorships or Purchasing Tickets: www.nhmafoundation.org

 

ANNOUNCMENTS

Postdoctoral Fellowship in "Psychology & Medicine: Translational Research on Stress, Behavior and Disease"

The University of California, San Francisco offers a two-year NIMH-funded postdoctoral fellowship for research training in the relationship of mental and physical health. Fellows have a focus either on (1) health-risk behaviors especially those leading to HIV/AIDS (theories of risk, developmental processes, decision-making, behavior change), or on (2) stress, depression, psychobiology and disease (e.g., social context of stress, cognitive appraisal, psychophysiological responses). Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The program is open to PhDs and MDs.  Apply by February 1st to begin by Fall 2010. For more information, visit http://healthpsych.ucsf.edu/ or e-mail Dr. Nancy Adler, c/o Russell Heiman at HealthPsychology@ucsf.edu

Seventh National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations will take place October 18-21, 2010 in Baltimore, MD. Call for Presentation Proposals is set to open January 1, 2010 at www.DiversityRxConference.org. Conference organizers are Julia Puebla Fortier, Candice Mathew Healy, and Dennis P. Andrulis. We encourage you to participate in this valuable meeting.

 

Deputy Director of the Division of Extramural Activities

 

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest institutes of the world-renowned National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports and conducts basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. The Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) oversees grants, contracts, peer review, policy, and communications. DEA supports extramural research through research training and career development programs, small business research awards, and international activities.

 

DEA seeks exceptional candidates for the position of deputy director.

The selected candidate serves as deputy to the DEA director and shares responsibility for DEA’s grants, contracts, peer review, and policy functions. With the director, the deputy participates in planning, administering, developing, and evaluating DEA’s research management programs and ongoing activities. The chosen candidate encourages collaborations with public and private/commercial entities to transition basic research into products that will improve human health in the United States and globally.

 

Qualifications: Applicants must possess a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent; be a U.S. citizen; exhibit a broad scientific management vision; be able to lead staff, communicate with diverse audiences, and respond flexibly to multiple and emerging issues; and demonstrate expertise in supervising a complex biomedical research program. Candidates must possess supervisory, project management, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills to interact effectively with staff, academia, private industry, national and international organizations, media, and the public.

 

Candidates must be familiar with university grantee processes as well as how private laboratories and small business organizations manage complex biomedical research projects and training programs. They must understand regulatory requirements for such things as use of animals, human subjects, and infectious agents and other biohazards. Familiarity with developing research program initiatives, clinical regulatory affairs, contracting and intellectual property issues, as an NIH awardee or program director, is a plus. 

 

Application Process: Provide curriculum vitae, bibliography, and three-page summary explaining your vision of extramural research, your interest in the position, and the specific leadership skills and experience you would bring to NIAID. You may be asked for up to three letters of professional reference at a later date, as the process progresses.

 

Submit applications to Theresa Shrader, Director, OPCO, DEA, NIAID, NIH, by mail to: 6700B Rockledge Dr., Room 2145 Bethesda, MD 20892 or by email to: tshrader@mail.nih.gov.                                                         

 

Applications must be received by December 31, 2009. Explore NIAID and its available career opportunities at www.niaid.nih.gov/careers/nhdd.

HHS and NIH are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers,Inc.,

with centers in Atlantic, Burlington, and Salem Counties, is one of the largest Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in New Jersey. We are a well-established medical and dental care provider, headquartered in Hammonton, NJ, with an unwavering dedication to improving the health status of residents within our service areas. We currently have Full-Time and Part-Time opportunities for

FAMILY PRACTITIONERS

 To qualify, you must be a graduate of an accredited school of medicine and have completed at least two years of Residency. Requires Board Certification or eligibility in area of specialty and a Valid NJ Medical license. Must also hold current NJ Controlled Dangerous Substance and DEA Registration and have Medicare and Medicaid privileges without sanctions. Enjoy competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a caring and professional work environment. Please forward C.V. or resume to: 

SJFMC, Attn: Human Resources,

1 White Horse Centre,

Hammonton, NJ 08037.

Fax: 609-567-9647 or apply online at

www.sjfmc.org  EOE

 

Connecting to Hispanic Health Professionals ---

NHMA encourages health professionals to join our partners, the NHMA Council of Medical Societies’ Hispanic Medical Societies and the Hispanic Professional Leadership Network of organizations to learn more about how to deliver quality health care to the Hispanic community. See our HispanicHealth.info portal for their contact information.

PLEASE JOIN NHMA AS A MEMBER AND HELP US DEVELOP THE ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES AS A RESOURCE IN WASHINGTON, DC TO IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ----GO TO WWW.NHMAMD.ORG TODAY TO SIGN-UP.