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U of M Joins Nationwide Discussion on Health Care
Mar 14, 2006

The University of Minnesota is one of 22 sites nationwide hosting a public discussion on U.S. health care titled "What is Your Health Worth? A National Conversation on Health Care."

This free event is open to the public and will be held on Wednesday, March 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the University of Minnesota, Moos Tower, Room 5-125.

The University's discussion on the U.S. health-care system, its flaws, and how those flaws can be addressed, will be linked via satellite to other town meetings going on at each university in the Big 10 conference and multiple schools of public health. The highlights of the national conversation will be compiled and forwarded to President George W. Bush and key members of Congress.

"This is a great opportunity for people to voice their concerns about the country's health care policies," said John Finnegan, Jr., dean of the School of Public Health. "We look forward to engaging with a large nationwide audience in an informed dialogue about this important issue."

The national event is led by the Citizens' Health Care Working Group and sponsored locally by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The Citizens' Health Care Working Group was created by the U.S. Congress in 2003 for the purpose of finding out what the public thinks about the accessibility, cost, and quality of health care, and turning that input into policy recommendations for the federal government. The goal of the working group is to hear from millions of Americans via surveys and community meetings such as the nationwide discussion in which the University is participating.

A panel of University health policy experts will lead the citizen discussion moderated by Judith Garrard, senior associate dean of academic affairs and research in the School of Public Health. Panel members include:

  • Lynn Blewett, associate professor, Division of Health Services Research & Policy
  • Mac Baird, Department of Family Practice and Community Health Department, Medical School
  • Ira Moscovice, professor, Division of Health Services Research & Policy
  • Susan Bartlett Foote, associate professor, Division of Health Services Research & Policy
  • Alan Lifson, associate professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
  • Roger Feldman, professor, Division of Health Services Research & Policy

A light dinner buffet and beverages will be provided free of charge. For more information, visit www.sph.umn.edu.