July 27, 2001

Health Professions Lunch Features Title VII and VIII Grantees

Speakers representing a range of disciplines within the Title VII and VIII health professions programs spoke at a July 23 lunch briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing, sponsored by the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), included presentations by Denise V. Rodgers, M.D., associate dean of Community Health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine; Kery Hummel, executive director of the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC); and Nancy Hayes, R.N., participant in Howard University School of Nursing's Nursing Careers for the Homeless program.

Dr. Rodgers discussed the primary care medicine and dentistry component of the health professions programs, drawing attention to the distribution and diversity problems in these professions. Mr. Hummel outlined the purpose and goals of AHECs, and the benefits of interdisciplinary training for health professionals. Ms. Hayes spoke of her personal experience as part of the Nursing Careers for the Homeless program, which allowed her, formerly a homeless mother of five, to enter a rewarding career in nursing.

Congressional staff were on hand for the lunch, which was convened to raise awareness on the importance of these programs. The president's proposed budget cuts funding for the Title VII and VIII programs by 60 percent.

Information: Erica Froyd, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.