Just Back from New Orleans, Former Centers for Disease Control Communications Expert Shares Experiences

News Advisory:

-- Just Back from New Orleans, Former Centers for Disease Control Communications Expert Shares Experiences

-- As Illinois Welcomes More Than 6,000 Evacuees and Plans for Long-Term Solutions to Help Relocated Hurricane Victims, Conference Offers Guidance for Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery

WHO: Dr. Robert Howard, former director of strategic communications for infections disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was on the front lines in New Orleans and Houston in September, experiencing the crisis first hand. Dr. Howard will speak this morning at the Illinois Public Health Institute’s 4th annual conference to share his experiences and discuss important public health lessons in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

WHAT: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exposed existing racial and ethnic health disparities; the conference features workshops and trainings, and brings together state and local health agencies to discuss ways to reduce such disparate impacts.

WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, Oct. 6

Dr. Howard will speak at 11:30 a.m.

Media availability at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mid-America Club, 200 E. Randolph Dr., AON Center, 80th Floor, Chicago, Ill.

WHY: The Partners in Action conference is designed to help officials, community partners and advocates work together to effectively manage public health in Illinois. In the past month, more than 6,000 evacuees from recent hurricanes have come to Illinois. In the wake of the heartbreaking experiences in the Gulf Coast, it is critical to reexamine statewide and local plans for public health action.

The Illinois Public Health Institute works through partnerships to promote prevention and improve public health systems that maximize health and quality of life for the people of Illinois.

Contact Information

Elissa Bassler

Media Contact

Illinois Public Health Institute

Contact via E-mail