UMDNJ Addresses Health Needs of New Jersey’s South Asian Community

9/2/09
For Immediate Release:

UMDNJ Addresses Health Needs of New Jersey’s South Asian Community
Princeton, NJ – To address the health needs of the burgeoning population of South Asian residents in New Jersey, a one-day conference entitled, Addressing Health Disparities and Health Literacy Challenges in the South Asian Community, will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the New Jersey Hospital Association in Princeton, NJ.

With approximately 185,000 South Asian residents in New Jersey, the state has one of the highest proportions (2.3%) of South Asian residents in the country. South Asians are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups from the Indian subcontinent and includes people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. This population has presented unique challenges in the health care community. When confronting issues of medical and mental well-being, South Asian immigrants and first-generation descendants often experience an inconsistency between their traditional ethic culture, and the attitude and practice of more rooted Americans. Health disorders, whether physical or mental are often seen as inherently private, or even shameful in many South Asian societies. This mindset often presents significant barriers to the individual and community health concerns of this demographic.

To address this societal condition, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the South Asian Total Health Initiative (SATHI) and the Center for Healthy Families and Cultural Diversity (CHFCD), in partnership with the UMDNJ Center for Continuing and Outreach Education (CCOE), have developed a new educational initiative to respond to the health care needs of the South Asian population in New Jersey. This conference will help raise awareness of the increased burden of chronic illness and health disparities experienced by South Asian communities, and specifically address issues for health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, depression, tuberculosis, and cancer.
By sharing best and promising practices from the health literacy and cultural competency fields, this one-day educational activity will seek to educate and empower clinicians by providing innovative and practical tools that can be employed in practice settings both with South Asian patients, as well as other multicultural populations.

The conference will also generate recommendations and a strategic action plan for addressing health disparities and health literacy challenges in the South Asian community. In addition, this event will also serve as a catalyst for the creation of an ongoing “learning community and collaboratory” that can positively impact clinical and preventive care, public health practice, education, research, and health care policy for this important population segment.

This educational activity will feature a two prominent keynote speakers and interactive workshops. Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Education credit (CME/CE) will be awarded to physicians, nurses, licensed social workers, as well as health educators. The registration fee is $75.

For program agenda, directions and credit information, please visit: http://ccoe.umdnj.edu/SouthAsianCommunity.

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To receive more information on this CME activity, please contact Theresa Setteducato at 973-972-3297 or settedtm@umdnj.edu.

About the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
As the largest public health sciences university in the country, UMDNJ provides a resource-rich foundation for continuing medical education excellence. Eight schools on five regional campuses are gateways to opportunities in medicine, dentistry, research, public health, nursing, and the full spectrum of allied health careers.

Founded in 1970 to consolidate New Jersey's health professions education, UMDNJ has become the very core of the state's health sciences system. With a network of more than 200 affiliated healthcare and educational partners spanning the state, UMDNJ touches the lives of almost every New Jerseyan every day. Our mission is both simple and inspiring-to enhance the health of all New Jerseyans through broad-based programs covering every aspect of the health sciences.
About UMDNJ Center for Continuing and Outreach Education
For over 30 years, UMDNJ CCOE has developed independent education, adhering to the highest standards of industry compliance.

Working in partnership with eight schools and numerous institutes and centers throughout New Jersey, the Center for Continuing and Outreach Education (CCOE) provides education with a diversity of approach, culture, and expertise that is unmatched in the medical education field.

Consistent with its responsibility as an academic medical center, UMDNJ, through CCOE, provides a comprehensive program of continuing medical education with the goal of improving the quality of patient care by providing lifelong educational opportunities for physicians and other healthcare providers.

Whether meeting face-to-face, studying enduring articles, or interacting through the internet, our audiences have benefited from innovative programming that addresses relevant clinical topics and influences favorable treatment outcomes.

UMDNJ
Center for Continuing and Outreach Education
30 Bergen Street
Newark, NJ 07101
ATTN: Theresa Setteducato at 973-972-3297 or settedtm@umdnj.edu.

This release was published on openPR.