City of Portland, UNE, Maine CDC & Penobscot Community Health Care Co-Host 4th Annual Maine Minority Health Conference

PORTLAND, Maine – The City of Portland Minority Health Program in collaboration with the Maine Center for Disease Control’s Office of Health Equity; Maine AIDS Education and Training Center (MEAETC), a division of Penobscot Community Health Care; and University of New England will host the 4th Annual Maine Minority Health Conference on Friday, June 13, 2014 from 7:00 a.m. – 3:35 p.m. at the University of New England’s Portland Campus at 716 Stevens Avenue.  The theme of the conference is “Prevention is Power: The Triple Aim and Taking Action for Health Equity.” The conference is free and open to the public.

According to conference coordinator Kolawole Bankole, MD, MS, OPIc, who is the Access Project Director/ Minority Health Program Coordinator for the City of Portland, Health and Human Services Department,  Public Health Division, the symposium is open to all health care professionals, staff from community-based organizations, students, patients, clients and anyone interested in the care and treatment of minority patients. The goal of the conference is to provide a forum to present current research, information and trends in health equity and the Triple Aim; and engage key stakeholders in discussion.

"This conference is designed to help raise awareness for all stakeholders about service provision and the importance of culturally sensitive health care delivery," said Dr. Bankole. "In order to reduce health disparities and health equity, people need to be educated about the Triple Aim Framework and its impact on
vulnerable populations.  It is a very important topic given the calls for improved quality care, improved population care, and low cost care delivery."

Conference highlights will include an opening keynote by James Harnar, Executive Director of the Hanley Center for Health Leadership, on “The Impact of Prevention and Dynamics of the Triple Aim in Transforming Health Equity;” a luncheon keynote by Megan Hannan on “Serving Vulnerable Populations;” and multiple breakout workshop breakout sessions.

The University of New England is a partner and venue to host the 4th Annual Maine Minority Health Conference due to its steadfast commitment to collaboration with community partners and engagement in community health initiatives, as demonstrated through its Interprofessional Education, and cross-cultural health initiatives such as the CHANNELS project.

The Maine CDC Office of Health Equity promotes health and wellness in Maine's most vulnerable communities. It serves these communities through its Maine Families Home Visiting, Rural Health and Primary Care, Women’s Health, WIC, Minority Health and Refugee Health Programs.

The Portland Public Health Division, part of the City's Health and Human Services Department, is composed of seven programs: Chronic Disease Prevention, Environmental Health and Safety, Family Health, Health Care for the Homeless, Health Equity and Research, India Street Clinical Services, and Operations. The Division provides services from 12 sites throughout the City, but also manages projects that impact public health across Cumberland County and the state of Maine.

MEAETC is providing generous support with funding from the New England AIDS Education and Training Center project, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.

Registration is required by June 2, 2014. Interested participants may contact Roanne Seeley at the Maine AIDS Education and Training Center at 207-596-5154 or roanne.seeley@gmail.com. CMEs/CEUs are available.

For additional information on the Minority Health Conference, contact Kolawole Bankole, MD at 207-874-8773 or bak@portlandmaine.gov.