2nd Annual National Urban Health Conference Focuses on Urban Ecology Feb 23 – 26

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, along with the New York Academy of Medicine, Harlem Hospital, Emblem Health, Touro College and The City College of New York, is sponsoring the second annual National Urban Health Conference. The four-day event will take place from February 23rd to February 26th and will center on the theme of Urban Ecology.

Each day of the conference will feature panels and discussions on traditional and non-traditional health issues that adversely affect those living in urban areas. The topics to be examined include Asthma, Men’s Health, Financial Health, Domestic Violence, Youth Violence and Spiritual Health. The conference will kick off with a program on Asthma at The City College of New York on Thursday, February 23rd with special remarks from Congresswoman Donna Christensen, D-U.S. Virgin Islands. Representative Christensen is the first female physician in its history to serve in the U.S. Congress, the first woman to represent an offshore territory, and the first woman delegate from the United States Virgin Islands.

Panel discussions, workshops and events will be held at various locations in Harlem including The City College of New York, Harlem Hospital Center and the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, as well churches in Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens. Registration and lunch on February 23rd begin at 12:30 p.m., presentations will commence at 1:15 p.m. Distinguished speakers on the first day’s panel at The City College of New York include the following:

•    Dr. Neville Parker, Herbert G. Kayser Professor of Civil Engineering, The City College of New York
•    Dr. H. Jack Geiger, M.D. , Medical Professor Emeritus of Community Health and Social Medicine, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, The City College of New York

Later in the week awards will be presented to selected persons in the health field, named in honor of prominent physician and community activist, the late Dr. Muriel Petioni.

The National Urban Health Conference is a signature event of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce’s Harlem HEALTHY Living initiative. This initiative, undertaken in partnership with Congressman Charles B. Rangel and the City of New York, has been created to help the residents and businesses of Upper Manhattan and of the urban communities like Harlem around the world to live healthier and more productive lives.

FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AND PHOTOS, AS WELL AS INTERVIEWS WITH PRESENTERS, PANELISTS AND ORGANIZERS, PLEASE CONTACT MARKO NOBLES OR PAULINE BARFIELD AT 212-862-7200.