Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 3, 2000

Volume 28, Number 23

Seminar seeks to spark interest
on Latino health issues

Yale will host a seminar on Friday, March 17, on conducting research into Latino health issues, such as depression, substance abuse, AIDS and access to health care.

This is one of a series of seminars that supplements a five-year study by Kathleen Merikangas, a professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) at the School of Medicine, and colleagues at the University of Puerto Rico led by Professor Glorisa Canino. The project examines the health and behavior of Puerto Rican families.

The study, now in its final year, is based on interviews with 600 families -- half of which continue to live in Puerto Rico and half of which have moved to the mainland.

"There is a lot of interest in Latino health issues, especially as the population continues to grow," says Kevin Conway, associate research scientist at EPH and coordinator of the health seminars. "Some of the major health concerns among Latinos include access to health care, language as a barrier to health care, mental health, substance abuse, AIDS and lack of health insurance."

The rate of HIV among Puerto Ricans, he notes, is extremely high and is believed to be mainly due to intravenous drug use and risky sexual behavior.

"Our long-term goal is to develop strategies to prevent development of risky behavior in late childhood and adolescence," Conway says. "We want to know how to create programs that are culturally appropriate."

Another major goal of the study and seminar series is to stimulate interest in research on Latino health and to encourage Latino investigators to compete for research funding to support projects related to substance abuse and AIDS/HIV. Formal training opportunities are offered at the National Latino Research Center in San Diego under the direction of Fernando Soriano.

Latinos, in this instance, include natives of Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

The speaker on March 17 will be Lloyd Rogler, the Albert Schweitzer University Professor at Fordham University, who will lecture on the meaning of culturally sensitive research and his classic work in underprivileged areas of Puerto Rico.

Rogler's talk will be held 3-4:30 p.m. in Rm. IE86, Sterling Hall of Medicine, 333 Cedar St. It will be broadcast live via videoconferencing to the National Latino Research Center in San Diego.

The study and seminar series are sponsored by the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

-- By Jacqueline Weaver

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale to construct $176 million building for medical research and education

Hockey player is humanitarian outside the rink

Scientist invents device for at-home testing of glaucoma

Professor brings presidential expertise to PBS series

Test reveals voters' unconscious presidential preferences

Executive decries 'disturbing trends' in the media

Writer describes her passion for her craft at master's tea

Study shows tongue's temperature affects taste

Alumna extols virtues of studying math

Seminar seeks to spark interest on Latino health issues

Yale surgeon is using a new, less-invasive treatment for easing carpal tunnel syndrome

Veteran sports writers help Yale journalists hone their craft

Law School colloquium to explore welfare 'reform'

Researchers discover role of 'duet' in cell function

Musical Break

Neuroscientist is honored by Danish university

Dr. Sherwin Nuland will discuss early myths about the body at book signing

A very moving work of art

Sports Scoreboard

In the News