270728 Our Brother's Keeper: The Thapelo Institute Experience - 9 years of health screenings targeting African American Men

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Joseph Harrington, BA , Regional Health Officer, Illinois Department of Public Health, Belwood, IL
Paul Crawford, MD, FASN , Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Partner, Associates in Nephrology, SC, Evergreen Park, IL
Rudell Christian, MPH, DrPH , Medical Liaison, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., Matteson, IL
Rupert Evans, DHA, MPA, FACHE , Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration, College of Health and Human Services, Governors State University, University Park, IL
Joseph F. West, MSc, ScD , Sinai Health System, Sinai Urban Health Institute, Chicago, IL
Shaan Trotter, MS , Northwestern University, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
Vincent L. Freeman, MD MPH , Epidemiology, UIC School of Public Health, Chciago, IL
Harvey Potts, MPH , Program Coordinator, The Thapelo Institute Inc., Brookfield, IL
     
African American men have the lowest life expectancy and highest death rate compared to men and women in other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The mission of the Thapelo Institute, Inc. is to educate the public in general and African Americans in particular on strategies for the implementation of positive health behaviors for the prevention of illness and management of disease. As African American men who have achieved a modicum of success, we believe that we have an obligation and responsibility to watch out for and care for one another, especially those that may be less fortunate than are we.

Since 2003 the Thapelo Institute has conducted an annual health and fitness event targeting African American men. In that time we have provided comprehensive health screenings to more than 1,300 men. At each of these screenings measurements of blood pressure and BMI were performed and blood was drawn for glucose, lipid profile, BUN, creatinine and PSA. This session will take a critical look at that data, what it forebodes, and what we must do.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of a non-governmental organization in combating racial and ethnic disparities Identify at least two actions which individuals and organizations can take in eliminating racial and ethnic disparities; Discuss disparate health outcomes and their impact on racial and ethnic minorities

Keywords: Health Disparities, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have organized and presented similar presentations at APHA since 2006 and have been a co-author on two articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals: 1) Hypertension (1991). Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Part 2: Screening and recruitment; and 2) Society for Clinical Trials. Minority recruitment to the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3018.0: African American Males: Obesity, Exercise, and Nutrition