RIVERSIDE
By Chris Levister
Riverside Luncheon Draws State and Local Leaders
The real impact of health disparities nationally is 886,000 more African Americans died between 1991 and 2000 than would have died had equal health care been available, according to David M. Carlisle, M.D., PhD. director of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. He insists the devastating impact of racial and ethnic health disparities has been around for decades if not centuries.
Dr. Carlisle told a Riverside forum of more than 100 state and local leaders, elected officials and representatives from the public and private health sector that poor and unequal health care tops the nation's agenda thanks to the barrage of compelling data now framing the debate over reform.
"We all knew there were disparities we didn't have the data to affirm their presence, now that the data are present and there's no denying that people needlessly lose their lives in the U.S. and in California because they can't get the health care they need."
He says similar statistics hold true of Latinos and certain Asian sub groups. Dr. Carlisle says people of color in California consistently face higher rates of sickness and death than whites. There is a risk that the prevalence of disparities may increase in California as the population becomes even more multicultural. By the year 2040, it is expected that two out of three Californians will be people of color.
Carlisle said generally the diseases and injuries that affect the population as a whole, affect low income and minority populations more, with people experiencing multiple negative health conditions.
He says state and national data reinforces Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's comprehensive plan to reform California's broken healthcare system and strengthens the need for a medical school at UC Riverside.
"The research based institution planned for UC Riverside is seen as a catalyst for changing the way the state looks at providing access to underrepresented populations.
By producing a diverse workforce and providing critical research data we are better able to develop strategy aimed at mitigating disparities in health for all Californians," said Carlisle.
The event, Disparities in Healthcare: Policy Options hosted by the James Wesley Vines Medical Society focused on framing the problem and developing policies to address unequal care among people of color.
Vines president Dr. A.J. Rogers said the stage is set for the Inland region to play an even greater leadership role in improving health for all and, in particular for those most at risk for poor health outcomes.
"Far too often African-Americans in particular become unnecessarily ill or injured from preventable conditions. Without effective medical treatment, these problems are then exacerbated and cause greater suffering, disability and premature death," said Rogers.
Kiki Nocella, Vice Provost of Health Affairs at UCR who served as mistress of ceremonies told listeners the university is forging ahead with plans for a medical school modeled after the successful UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences.
 Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) (1-r) Craig Byus, Dean UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences and J.W. Vines Medical Society Vice President Richard Kotomori attend a legislative forum on health disparities at the Riverside Mission Inn.
"The medical school would provide a pipeline for educating, training and producing ‘a diverse and distinguished physician work force' with a special emphasis on the medically underserved," Nocella said. UCR officials have long cited the region's projected physician shortfall of 53 percent or 1,140 physicians by 2015 in their proposal.
Guest speaker John Matsui, PhD. program director for UC Berkley's highly lauded Biology Scholars Program blasted an academic community he characterized as remains largely resistant to embracing diversity.
"Millions of dollars spent on diversity efforts and over 40 years of failing minority students in the sciences, here we are at a luncheon scratching our heads," said Matsui. "Most academic faculty and administrators across the state are still using the same insane excuse. ‘It's them not us'." We know why many minority students fail. They come to Berkley with lower scores. Many are forced to work part or even full time. They come from failing public schools that offer fewer advanced placement courses. On campus they face limitations to study groups, role models and peer groups. When they fail and drop out we blame the student."
Matsui said, "Life happens sometimes it's beyond their control. Yet many of us refuse to accept anything other than the standard policies on expectation. What's wrong with this picture?"
"If in faculty career promotions and tenure decisions significant weight were given to a professor or an administrator's success in diversifying the pool for medical, dental and graduate schools. If it meant delaying or denying a full professorship, behaviors would change in a very big hurry. What else would make them hop?"
Matsui said African American and Hispanic who participated in the Berkley program graduated with a biology degree at the same rate (60 percent) as Asian and white students who were not in the program and at twice the rate (24 percent) of minority students who did not participate in the program.
Vines Medical Society vice president Dr. Richard Kotomori said the challenge can-and must-be met with a sustained commitment of will, resources and local, state and national cooperation to eliminating unequal care.
"We cannot wait any longer. Changes have to happen on all levels including legislative, academic, professional and personal levels."
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