|
|
 |
|
|
NCI Holds Cancer Health Disparities Summit 2006
Right
Click to Download MP3 File
Brief Description:
Cancer researchers, health professionals and community health advocates
came together in Bethesda, Maryland, recently for the Cancer Health
Disparities Summit 2006.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: Cancer researchers, health professionals
and community health advocates came together in Bethesda, Maryland, recently
for the Cancer Health Disparities Summit 2006. Cancer Health Disparity
refers to the difference in the incidence, burden, and mortality in certain
racial and ethnic populations and socio-economically deprived individuals.
The summit featured interactive sessions on a variety of topics centered
around the theme "Strengthening our Culture of Collaborations for Reducing
Cancer Health Disparities." Dr. Sonya Springfield, acting director for
the Center to Reduce Cancer Disparities and branch chief of the Comprehensive
Minority Biomedical Branch at the National Cancer Institute talked about
the objectives of the two-and-a-half-day summit.
Springfield: What we wanted to do was bring together what
I felt were some of the most effective and promising programs that were
addressing the areas of cancer health disparities that were funded by the
NCI as well as the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities.
So we had about eight of these programs come together, first and foremost
to understand and learn and gain knowledge about each of these various
programs. A lot of them are doing some interesting research in areas that
they could absolutely begin new collaborations, they could strengthen their
current partnerships and gain better ways of sharing resources and the
talent and expertise in the areas that, again, are effective in reducing
cancer burden in minority
Schmalfeldt: Dr. Springfield said the summit was also
attended by representatives from all the divisions at NCI, giving an overview
of other programs and their commitment to activities within their divisions
that are dealing with the burden of cancer in minority populations. She
talked about what she thinks the various groups took away from the summit.
Springfield: I think the group was really re-energized.
It was apparent that they were unaware of the many activities and the
many programs that NCI was supporting in this area. They got a feel for
the NCI commitment from the leadership. They got a renewed sense of hope,
I believe. Currently we are undergoing a course of fiscal restraint,
so they're concerned about budget cuts. They're concerned about their
programs ending or not getting enough support to do the various works
that they are in the process of doing. I think that they were reassured
by the message that we're going to be here through this short period
of time, that we'll emerge strong when funds return back into our portfolios
and in our programs.
Schmalfeldt: To learn more about the summit, log on to
www.cancer.gov/newscenter. From the National
Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda, Maryland.
|
|
|
|
| Date: 07/28/2006 |
Reporter:
Bill Schmalfeldt |
Sound
Bite:
Dr. Sonya Springfield |
Topic:
Cancer |
| Institute(s): NCI, NCMHD |
|
