Conference to Focus on the Challenge of Diabetes in Louisiana

In partnership with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the Environment & Health Council! of Louisiana (EHCL) will host a conference focusing on the most pressing challenges and concerns related to diabetes in Louisiana, as well as the most promising solutions and innovations available. The( “Louisiana Diabetes Summit: Meeting  Our  Challenge” will be held on April 24th in Baton Rouge at the C.B. Pennington Conference Center located on the campus of Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

According to Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals, as of 2010, approximately 10% of Louisiana residents have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. Many more remain undiagnosed. As of 2008, Louisiana had the 2nd highest diabetes death rate in the nation. In 2006, the total cost of diabetes to the state was more than $2.4 billion dollars. Raising awareness, promoting prevention, and ensuring that diabetes patients get the best possible care is crucial to the health and wellbeing of our state.

The Diabetes Summit agenda includes:

• Stephen B. Walker, MD, Chief Medical Officer, CNSI: opening remarks
• William T. Cefalu, MD, Chief, Joint Program on Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Pennington Biomedical Research Center & LSUHSC School of Medicine: topic TBD
• Tyler Carruth, PA, Health Information Technology Coordinator, La. Dept. of Health & Hospitals: “The State of Diabetes in Our State”
• Anjum Khurshid, PhD, MD and Kristin Lyman, JD, Louisiana Public Health Institute: “Crescent City Beacon Community Initiative”
• David G. Carmouche, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana: topic TBD
• Kate Theriot, Louisiana Business Group on Health: topic TBD
• Lou Brock, National Baseball Hall of Fame: lunch speaker
• David R. Heitmeier, OD, La. State Senator, Chairman Health and Welfare Committee: topic TBD
• Paul W. Grandon, MD, Medical Director, Delhi Critical Access Hospital: “Pre-­‐diabetes Intervention Program of Northeast Louisiana”
• Matt Longjohn, MD, Sr. Director, Chronic Disease Prevention Programs, YMCA USA: “Development and Dissemination of Diabetes Prevention: Innovative Programs”
• Janet Mentesane, and Katheryn Arterberry FNP, DNP, Martin Luther King Health Center: “Implementing a CDC Diabetes Prevention Program in Shreveport”
• Rebekah Gee, MD, Medicaid Medical Director, La. Dept. of Health & Hospitals

The conference begins at 8:30 A.M. with registration and will conclude at 4:00 P.M. It is open to the public at no charge, but registration is required. Pre-­‐registration will guarantee your spot and lunch; day-­‐of registration will be available on a first-­‐come basis until we reach capacity. To pre-­‐register, please send your name and contact information to [email protected]. More information available at our website, www.ehcla.org
 
The Environment and Health Council of Louisiana is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to facilitate independent, balanced and factual assessment of health issues related to the environmental and economic well being of Louisiana. A volunteer Board of Directors runs the EHCL.