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Lecturer Selected   |   Inaugural Lecture Series
John Ruffin Lecturer Selected

Contact:
Kermit G Payne
The 1Joshua Group, LLC
1513 East Cleveland Avenue
Building 100-B, Suite 202
Atlanta, GA 30344
404.559.6191
xula@the1joshuagroup.com
http://xula.the1joshuagroup.com

The John Ruffin Inaugural Lecturer Selected for Health Disparities Lecture Series

New Orleans, LA (January 30, 2015) — The College of Pharmacy at Xavier University of Louisiana and its Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) is pleased to announce The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan as the inaugural John Ruffin Lecturer. Dr. Sullivan served as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during President George H.W. Bush's Administration and was Founding Dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Sullivan is chair of the Sullivan Alliance — a Washington, DC-based and community-focused non-profit organization created to transform and diversify health professions and education — and board chair of the National Health Museum in Atlanta, Georgia — an organization established to improve the health of Americans by enhancing health literacy and advancing healthy behaviors. Louis Sullivan will present the inaugural lecture during the College of Pharmacy's Eighth Health Disparities Conference March 12–14, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

CMHDRE established the John Ruffin Lecture Series to recognize an individual or organization that promotes or improves the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations by addressing timely issues in health policy, treatment, research, and advocacy. The lecture series is named for Dr. John Ruffin, whose track record of dedication to leadership and career advancement for individuals from racial and ethnic minority populations is exemplary. Dr. Ruffin's record of accomplishments was achieved through his academic experience and as a founding director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Sullivan states, “I am honored to be giving the John Ruffin Inaugural Lecture. I began working with Dr. Ruffin in 1990 when the Office of Minority Programs (OMP) was established in the NIH Office of the Director at my request as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Ruffin was appointed Associate Director of Minority Programs to direct the OMP. John and I have continued that work to improve health outcomes for all of this country's citizens.”

Dr. Ruffin's achievements include honorary degrees from a number of notable institutions. He has received numerous awards acknowledging his vision and leadership to integrate science, policy, practice, and community efforts toward eliminating health disparities, with emphasis on the social determinants of health. As founding director of NIMHD, Dr. Ruffin achieved monumental success in creating a health disparities research enterprise within NIH, and beyond, to transform national and international conversation around minority health and health disparities, consequently triggering health disparities research to become a recognized scientific discipline.

Dr. Ruffin stated “I am humbled to have a lecture series named in my honor. I am pleased to be one of the ‘work horses’ in making health disparities and health disparities research a conversation that is comfortable to discuss, causes passion and addresses the importance of increasing professionals in the field. I cannot think of a better person to give the inaugural lecture than Dr. Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan has led the effort around improving health outcomes at an unprecedented high and effective level. I am proud to call him colleague and friend and even more proud that he would honor Xavier and me by agreeing to give this lecture.”

For more information about the Eighth Health Disparities Conference, visit http://xula.the1joshuagroup.com or call 404.559.6191.

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About the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, Research and Education

The mission of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) is to provide the infrastructure required to conduct research. In addition, the center is charged with providing basic, clinical, and behavioral experiential training and community outreach education aimed at eliminating health disparities.

The overarching goals of the CMHDRE are to: a) provide an environment to support and strengthen research interest and activities of current and new faculty members related to health disparities with a focus on diabetes and cancer; b) develop student-oriented programs to support and promote student involvement in research activities; and c) integrate health promotion, education, and disease prevention into primary care services. Accomplishing these goals will increase the ability of the College to produce a pool of well-educated health professionals and biomedical researchers attuned to the issues of disparities research.

About the XU College of Pharmacy

The Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy seeks to be the premier institution preparing pharmacy practitioners who demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication to the medically underserved populations in our society, while striving to eliminate healthcare disparities. The College of Pharmacy has been integral in educating a diverse student population and remains committed to achieving excellence in all of its endeavors. It seeks to continue to expand its regional, national, and international leadership in the pharmacy profession by broadening its achievements in student development, scholarship, and service. It strives to improve its ability to provide excellence in pharmaceutical care and education by strengthening its ability to act strategically in relation to the rapid and dynamic changes in the profession

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service

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Inaugural Lecture Series

Contact:
Kermit G Payne
The 1Joshua Group, LLC
1513 East Cleveland Avenue
Building 100-B, Suite 202
Atlanta, GA 30344
404.559.6191
xula@the1joshuagroup.com
http://xula.the1joshuagroup.com

Inaugural Health Disparities Lecture Series Named for John Ruffin, Health Disparities Champion

New Orleans, LA (January 5, 2015) — Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) will present the Inaugural John Ruffin Lecture Series during its Eighth Health Disparities Conference, March 12–14, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The lecture series is named for John Ruffin, founding director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health. Dr Ruffin is being recognized as a champion who addressed the rebalancing of the unequal burden of illness particularly as it affects minority, rural, and poor populations through programs aimed at increasing participation by minority scientists, physicians, and other health professionals to create a diverse group of researchers in the health disparities field.

CMHDRE Director Dr. Daniel Sarpong and Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, Dean College of Pharmacy will co-chair the conference. “We are very fortunate to have a long-termed, dedicated champion in eliminating health disparities as a part of our community such as Dr. Ruffin,” said Dr. Sarong. “His leadership and devotion greatly contributed to improving the health and welfare of US citizens.”

“The John Ruffin Lecture Series, which will be inaugurated at our March 2015 conference, is a fitting tribute in recognition of the important contributions Dr. Ruffin has made in the area of health for people in the nation and around the world, particularly people of color. We are pleased to be able to acknowledge this champion,” added Dr. Kennedy.

“Dr. John Ruffin is certainly deserving of this honor and recognition,” said Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis. “His vision and leadership has contributed to a global conversation about minority health and health disparities, positively affecting people of color and speaking to personal issues that have longstanding consequences.”

Dr. Ruffin earned a B.S. in Biology from Dillard University, a M.S. in Biology from Atlanta University, a Ph.D. in Systematic and Developmental Biology from Kansas State University, and completed post-doctoral studies in biology at Harvard University. His track record of dedication to leadership and career advancement for individuals from racial and ethnic minority populations was nurtured through his experience as instructor of biology at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Assistant Professor of Biology at Atlanta University; Associate Professor of Biology at Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama; Cabot Teaching Fellow at Harvard University; and Professor Biology, Chair of the Department of Biology, and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at North Carolina Central University

His achievements include nine honorary Doctor of Science degrees. He has been recognized by various professional, non-profit, and advocacy organizations. He has also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for National Service, the Department of Health and Human Services' Special Recognition Award; and the U.S. Presidential Merit Award.

The John Ruffin Inaugural Lecture Series is established to recognize an individual or organization that promotes or improves the health of individuals, families, communities, or populations by addressing timely issues in health policy, treatment, research, or advocacy, particularly minorities. The XULA2015 Executive Committee will announce the inaugural lecturer within the next two weeks.

For more information about the Eight Health Disparities Conference, visit www.xula.the1joshuagroup.com or call 404.559.6191.

###

About the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, Research and Education

The mission of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (CMHDRE) is to provide the infrastructure required to conduct research. In addition, the center is charged with providing basic, clinical, and behavioral experiential training and community outreach education aimed at eliminating health disparities

The overarching goals of the CMHDRE are to: a) provide an environment to support and strengthen research interest and activities of current and new faculty members related to health disparities with a focus on diabetes and cancer; b) develop student-oriented programs to support and promote student involvement in research activities; and c) integrate health promotion, education, and disease prevention into primary care services. Accomplishing these goals will increase the ability of the College to produce a pool of well-educated health professionals and biomedical researchers attuned to the issues of disparities research.

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