Release

UAlbany School of Public Health Students Showcase Research at Prestigious National Conferences
Blanca Gonzalez and Eileen Bush selected for presentations at annual meetings of American Public Health Association and Gerontological Society of America

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 22, 2006) -- University at Albany School of Public Health students Blanca Gonzalez and Eileen Bush have been selected to present their research at the annual conferences of two internationally-recognized public health organizations: the American Public Health Association's (APHA) 134th Annual Meeting and the Gerontological Society of America's (GSA) 59th Annual Scientific Meeting. Review committees for each organization, made up of distinguished public health experts, select conference participants.

Gonzalez and Bush were selected to give an oral presentation on Public health nursing strategies for addressing health disparities: Understanding cultural nuances when conducting research in Latino Communities at the APHA meeting Nov. 4-8, 2006 in Boston. The student researchers will also conduct a poster presentation titled Promoting Health for Latino Older Adults: Infusing Health Education Activities in Naturally Occurring Social Settings for the GSA conference from Nov. 17-18 in Dallas. The students are looking at the role of nurses in helping to address health disparities among minorities, including Latino older adults.

"I congratulate Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Bush for proactively conducting research in the field of health disparities and for striving to improve the lives of others," said Susan Herbst, provost and executive vice president of the University at Albany. "This is a wonderful example of the continued efforts by members of the UAlbany community -- from the Center for Health Workforce Studies, the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, and now students from our School of Public Health, to help find solutions for a significant problem faced by our society."

"I am pleased and excited about the work and dedication of Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Bush," said Mary S. Applegate, interim dean of the School of Public Health. "As their research highlights, public health nurses are a critical part of the public health workforce. I encourage them to carry on with their studies about effective ways of addressing minority health disparities and to continue to grow as students and researchers in the field of public health."

"Public health nurses have a professional responsibility to help eliminate minority health disparities as a step toward ensuring that everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, enjoys the basic human right to health," said Gonzalez, a registered nurse and lead author of presentations. "As both a student studying public health as well as a public health practitioner, I am grateful for the opportunity to present our research in this area to such distinguished organizations as American Public Health Association and Gerontological Society of America."

Through its partnership with the New York State Dept. of Health, UAlbany's School of Public Health offers students a wealth of internships at state and county health departments and at a variety of public and private sector health institutions in New York State and throughout the world. Students have unique opportunities to study the most profound health issues facing us today: health disparities; preparedness for natural and terrorist disasters; tobacco; HIV/AIDS here and abroad; chronic illnesses linked to the obesity epidemic; the global need for clean drinking water; food safety; access to quality, affordable healthcare for individuals and families; substance abuse and social violence; the impact of genetics on public health; and many other high-priority issues.