Summaries of Meetings
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May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council’s February Meeting |
The NHLBI hosted the fifth annual Public Interest Organization (PIO) Meeting on February 11, 2004, in Bethesda, Maryland. This year's meeting was the largest ever, with more than 130 people in attendance and nearly 70 PIOs represented. Two main themes of the meeting were fostering collaborations and sharing best practices. The meeting agenda was designed to encourage interactions among the PIOs and to provide them time to share ideas.
Meeting highlights included:
The NHLBI extends a warm thank you to all PIOs who participated, especially those who facilitated group discussions. We welcome your feedback and look forward to seeing you again next year.
Help increase public awareness of the risks of high blood pressure and promote improved prevention and control by taking action at the local level. Activity ideas, fact sheets, media tools, and other easy-to-use materials are available in the National High Blood Pressure Education Program's Community Kit.
For more ideas, check out the activity registry to see what events will be held throughout the United States and the world, and be sure to register your event.
Dr. Barbara Alving, Acting Director of the NHLBI, welcomed members to the 213th meeting of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC). Dr. Alving reminded everyone that February is American Heart Month and she introduced four new Council members.
Ms. Sandra Gault, Financial Management Branch, gave an update of the President's FY 2005 budget request for the NHLBI. Ms. Terry Long, Office of Prevention, Education, and Control, discussed The Heart Truth campaign.
Dr. William Baumgartner, Cardiac Surgeon-in-Charge, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, gave a presentation on cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Alice Mascette, Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases (DHVD), described some of the activities in cardiothoracic surgery supported by the Institute and discussed future initiatives.
Dr. Milton Packer, Chief of Circulatory Physiology in the Department of Medicine, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and chair of the NHLBI Working Group that addressed future directions for congestive heart failure research, provided an overview of the group's recommendations. Dr. John Fakunding, DHVD, summarized current NHLBI research support in heart failure and outlined plans to address the recommendations of the working group.
Ms. Sue Byrnes, Executive Director of The LAM Foundation and member of the NHLBAC, reported on the PIO meeting, describing the tremendous synergy that it generated. She thanked the NHLBI for sponsoring it and for allotting more time in the agenda for PIO representatives to interact.
Dr. James Kiley, Division of Lung Diseases, presented three new initiatives for Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research. Council members enthusiastically supported all three initiatives. Dr. Robert Musson, Division of Extramural Affairs, described the Institute's recent efforts to streamline its interaction with the Council.
During the closed portion of the meeting, the Council concurred on the award of 294 grants for a total cost of $143,954,939.
The next National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) meeting is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on May 13, 2004. It is open to the public and will be in NIH Building 31C, Conference Room 10.
The FYI from the NHLBI staff thanks Ms. Sue Byrnes, member of the NHLBAC and director of the LAM Foundation, for her efforts in preparing this summary. Full minutes of Council meetings and summaries of the initiatives are available.
Date: May 1-31
Details: During May, the National Stroke Association urges people to
take charge of their health by asking their doctor about stroke prevention and
adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Dates: May 13 and September 2
Location: Building 31C, Conference Room 10, NIH Campus, Bethesda,
MD.
Details: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.
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research, advocacy, and education.
Dates: June 26-28
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Dates: June 24-27
Location:Miami, FL.
Details: The Conference provides
an opportunity for PH patients, caregivers, and medical professionals to learn
about advances in treatment and research.
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