CDC - Partnership Matters Newsletter

A Message from the Editor

April 16, 2008

Not all Americans benefit equally from advances in medical care. Some groups are more likely to get cancer, more likely to die of cancer, or are less likely to survive after being diagnosed with cancer. These differences are called health disparities (see Feature story).

Many different groups are affected by disparities, including racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in cancer will require enhanced efforts at preventing disease, early detection, and delivering appropriate care. CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control works to promote cancer education, prevention, treatment, and screening among all populations through its National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

And speaking of CDC’s commitment to achieving true improvements in people’s lives by accelerating health impact and reducing health disparities, CDC would like to recognize Joyce Essien, MD, MBA. Essien, senior advisor in the Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, is one of the recipients of the 2008 American Medical Association Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Pride in the Profession Award. The award honors US physicians who exemplify the highest values of altruism, compassion, leadership, and dedication to patient care.

Essien’s body of work stands as a testament to her dedication and service to public health. Please join us in congratulating her.

And, as always, feel free to share any comments, questions or concerns you may have about CDC Partnership Matters. Also, don’t forget to stop by the Partners’ Web site to see what’s new.

Warm Regards,

Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

CDC Headlines

Learn More About Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy
The most common form of muscular dystrophy in children is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder that affects about 1 out of every 3,500 to 5,000 boys. There is currently no cure for DBMD. >> read the full text

Women and Alcohol
April is Alcohol Awareness month. Some people, including pregnant women and women who might become pregnant, should not drink at all, since there is no known amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is one of the top preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. >> read the full text

SEED Autism Research
CDC’s Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is the largest collaborative scientific study to date of the causes of autism. It is a 5-year, multi-site, collaborative study that will include about 2,700 children, 2 through 5 years of age, as well as their parents. >>read the full text

Events and Seminars

All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >>read the full text

March 2008
Picturing Health: Norman Rockwell and the Art of Illustration
March 10–June 4
Hosted by Global Health Odyssey, NCHM, CDC

April 2008
57th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) Conference
April 14–18
Hosted by the Office of Workforce and Career Development, CDC

Autism Awareness Month Presentation
April 17
Hosted by National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC

Call For Abstracts – 2nd Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media
April 18
Hosted by National Center for Health Marketing, CCHIS, CDC, National Cancer Institute, National Public Health Information Coalition

Call For Abstracts – Public Health Information Network (PHIN) Conference
April 25
Hosted by National Center for Public Health Informatics, CDC

May 2008
11th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research
May 5–7
Hosted by National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

2008 CDC Diabetes Conference
May 5–8
Hosted by Division of Diabetes Translation, NCCDPHP, CDC

CDC Personnel

Deaths
Marion Murphy Brooke, a founding scientist of CDC and former commissioned officer, United States Public Health Service, died March 13.

Laurel Zaks, public health advisor, Geographic and Program Coordination Branch, Division of Global Preparedness and Program Coordination, March 28.

CDC History

Apr. 17, 1987: MMWR identified 1985 as the first year in which all states reported detailed information on individual cases of tuberculosis, thus allowing for more precise identification of groups at risk for tuberculosis. “In 1985, 22,201 tuberculosis cases were reported to CDC. Of the 22,170 tuberculosis cases among persons of known race, 11,524 (52.0%) occurred among whites, and 7,719 (34.8%) occurred among blacks, for morbidity rates of 5.7 and 26.7 cases per 100,000 population, respectively.

Link Source: CDC. Topics in minority health tuberculosis in blacks—United States. MMWR. 1987;36(14):219-20.

Get Informed

Preparing Students to be Good and Healthy Citizens in the 21st Century

1-800-QUIT-NOW Reaches One Million

QuickStats: Life Expectancy Ranking at Birth, by Sex

CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback
The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.


IN THIS ISSUE A Message from the Editor CDC Works to Resolve Health Disparities CDC Headlines Learn More About Duchenne/ Becker Muscular Dystrophy Women and Alcohol SEED Autism Research Events and Seminars March 2008 Picturing Health: Norman Rockwell April 2008 57th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) Conference Autism Awareness Month Presentation Call for Abstracts – 2nd Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media Call for Abstracts – Public Health Information Network (PHIN) Conference May 2008 11th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research 2008 CDC Diabetes Conference CDC Personnel Deaths CDC History MMWR identified 1985 as the first year in which states reported detailed information on tuberculosis. Get Informed Preparing Students to be Good and Healthy Citizens in the 21st Century 1-800-QUIT-NOW Reaches One Million QuickStats: Life Expectancy Ranking at Birth, by Sex	A Message from the Editor April 16, 2008 Not all Americans benefit equally from advances in medical care. Some groups are more likely to get cancer, more likely to die of cancer, or are less likely to survive after being diagnosed with cancer. These differences are called health disparities (see Feature story). Many different groups are affected by disparities, including racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in cancer will require enhanced efforts at preventing disease, early detection, and delivering appropriate care. CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control works to promote cancer education, prevention, treatment, and screening among all populations through its National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. And speaking of CDC’s commitment to achieving true improvements in people’s lives by accelerating health impact and reducing health disparities, CDC would like to recognize Joyce Essien, MD, MBA. Essien, senior advisor in the Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, is one of the recipients of the 2008 American Medical Association Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Pride in the Profession Award. The award honors US physicians who exemplify the highest values of altruism, compassion, leadership, and dedication to patient care. Essien’s body of work stands as a testament to her dedication and service to public health. Please join us in congratulating her. And, as always, feel free to share any comments, questions or concerns you may have about CDC Partnership Matters. Also, don’t forget to stop by the Partners’ Web site to see what’s new. Warm Regards, Division of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances CDC Headlines Learn More About Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy The most common form of muscular dystrophy in children is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder that affects about 1 out of every 3,500 to 5,000 boys. There is currently no cure for DBMD. >> read the full text Women and Alcohol April is Alcohol Awareness month. Some people, including pregnant women and women who might become pregnant, should not drink at all, since there is no known amount of alcohol that is safe to drink while pregnant. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is one of the top preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. >> read the full text SEED Autism Research CDC’s Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is the largest collaborative scientific study to date of the causes of autism. It is a 5-year, multi-site, collaborative study that will include about 2,700 children, 2 through 5 years of age, as well as their parents. >>read the full text Events and Seminars All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >>read the full text March 2008 Picturing Health: Norman Rockwell and the Art of Illustration March 10–June 4 Hosted by Global Health Odyssey, NCHM, CDC April 2008 57th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) Conference April 14–18 Hosted by the Office of Workforce and Career Development, CDC Autism Awareness Month Presentation April 17 Hosted by National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC Call For Abstracts – 2nd Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media April 18 Hosted by National Center for Health Marketing, CCHIS, CDC, National Cancer Institute, National Public Health Information Coalition Call For Abstracts – Public Health Information Network (PHIN) Conference April 25 Hosted by National Center for Public Health Informatics, CDC May 2008 11th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research May 5–7 Hosted by National Foundation for Infectious Diseases 2008 CDC Diabetes Conference May 5–8 Hosted by Division of Diabetes Translation, NCCDPHP, CDC CDC Personnel Deaths Marion Murphy Brooke, a founding scientist of CDC and former commissioned officer, United States Public Health Service, died March 13. Laurel Zaks, public health advisor, Geographic and Program Coordination Branch, Division of Global Preparedness and Program Coordination, March 28. CDC History Apr. 17, 1987: MMWR identified 1985 as the first year in which all states reported detailed information on individual cases of tuberculosis, thus allowing for more precise identification of groups at risk for tuberculosis. “In 1985, 22,201 tuberculosis cases were reported to CDC. Of the 22,170 tuberculosis cases among persons of known race, 11,524 (52.0%) occurred among whites, and 7,719 (34.8%) occurred among blacks, for morbidity rates of 5.7 and 26.7 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. Link Source: CDC. Topics in minority health tuberculosis in blacks—United States. MMWR. 1987;36(14):219-20. Get Informed Preparing Students to be Good and Healthy Citizens in the 21st Century 1-800-QUIT-NOW Reaches One Million QuickStats: Life Expectancy Ranking at Birth, by Sex CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.