Fall 2007 Newsletter Article

It is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that we assume our roles as co-chairs of the Culture, Ethnicity, and Health Care SIG. By way of introduction, Jane Brotanek is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she works to better understand and reduce disparities in health among Latino children. Her areas of research interest encompass asthma, racial/ethnic disparities, the healthy immigrant effect, overweight, iron deficiency in US toddlers, and cultural/linguistic barriers to care. As a Robert Wood Johnson Physician Faculty Scholar, she is conducting a series of studies using both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the contribution of infant feeding practices to iron deficiency among Mexican-American toddlers. Ethan Wiener is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at NYU School of Medicine. He has been interested and actively involved in medical student education as well as in quality improvement and evidence-based medicine. His other areas of interest include the care of underserved children and families and those with limited English proficiency.

Continuing the tradition of its founders, our SIG will keep as its centerpiece cultural/linguistic issues in the areas of research, education, and policy/advocacy and how these issues impact children’s health and health care. At the 2008 PAS Meeting this year in Honolulu, Hawaii, we will have a unique opportunity to explore health issues relating to the native populations of Hawaii. Our plans for the meeting include inviting speakers from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii State Department of Health to address racial/ethnic disparities in Native Hawaiian populations and local community-based interventions designed to address these disparities. Presentation of the highest-scoring abstracts on cultural issues and an interactive discussion session with our SIG members will follow. We welcome any input or feedback you may have, and look forward to seeing you in Hawaii.

Updated 11/1/07