UAB Minority Health & Research Center Gala

http://www.uabmhrc.com/

http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/articles/51974/

Big Names, Big Issue: Barkley, Jackson and Johnson Team to Defeat Minorities’ Health Disparities

September 16, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, along with Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL and MLB great Bo Jackson, will host the fourth University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Minority Health and Research Center (MHRC) Gala Sept. 26 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center in Birmingham. This year's event will be emceed by Emmy-winning TNT sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr.

The black-tie affair, which includes a reception and a seated dinner, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Ticket information is available from 205-975-5659 or www.uabmhrc.com. Reservations received after Sept. 18 will be accepted on a space available basis.

Barkley is a long-time supporter of the MHRC's efforts to reduce racial disparities in health care and has hosted the previous three galas. Because of his support, the MHRC has been able to develop numerous programs and research projects, including Charles Barkley Health Disparities Fund, which administers financial support to UAB faculty for research in the field of health disparities.

Barkley, a former Auburn University basketball star, will announce the winners of the 2008 Charles Barkley Health Disparities Research Award to young investigators at the Sept. 26 Gala.
"The Charles Barkley Health Disparities Fund provides financial support for researchers to develop outreach, educational and investigative projects related to obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, stroke, cancer and minority organ donation," said Mona Fouad, M.D., director of the UAB MHRC. "Despite steady improvements in the overall health of the United States, racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience a lower quality of health services, are less likely to receive routine medical procedures, and have higher rates of severe illness and death than non-minorities.

"These developmental research projects have the potential to become either full-size projects or to lead to other extramural funding, extending further the ability of UAB, through Charles Barkley's generosity, to help the most vulnerable of our citizens," she said.
Barkley, a Leeds native and now a fun-loving sports commentator for TNT network, turns serious when talking about how African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities are far behind in the level of their health care.

He said, "As I've made the transition from playing sports to on-air commentating and public speaking, I began to talk about serious and sensitive issues such as race and education. Because of the opportunities I've had in life, I feel I have an obligation to speak up about issues affecting our communities, and one of those issues is the health status of African-Americans and how to raise their level of health."

Bo Jackson, Auburn University football and baseball star, won the 1985 Heisman Trophy. In the NFL, Jackson played running back for the Los Angeles Raiders. In major league baseball, Jackson played left field and designated hitter for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox and the California Angels. Jackson was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major sports.

Ernie Johnson Jr., will enter his 19th year as the studio host for Turner Sports' 2008-09 NBA telecasts. He hosts TNT's Emmy award-winning Inside the NBA with Barkley and analyst Kenny Smith. Johnson also will continue as host and play-by-play announcer for TNT's coverage of professional golf in 2008, which includes the 85th PGA Championship, 2008 Open Championship and 2008 Grand Slam of Golf.

"This gala is an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate Charles Barkley's ongoing commitment to the unique needs of the most vulnerable Alabamians," Fouad said. "It also provides a focus for individuals and corporations that want to help UAB address the disparities of access to health care, lifestyle issues, cancer detection and treatment, and the compatibility and availability of organ transplantation among minorities in Alabama."

The UAB MHRC is a comprehensive educational, research and community-outreach center focused on eliminating the health disparities of racial and ethnic minorities. Its programs include:
Research: helps investigators compete effectively for programs and identifies opportunities for new investigators.

Training: offers career development for investigators and students who are interested in minority health issues.

Outreach: works to establish trust and partnerships for research in minority and underserved populations.

Fouad said that despite steady improvements in the overall health of the United States, racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience a lower quality of health services, are less likely to receive routine medical procedures, and have higher rates of severe illness and death than non-minorities. Minorities lag behind whites in many diseases, she said, including:

African Americans, compared with Caucasians have a:
30 percent higher death rate from heart disease
41 percent higher death rate from stroke
40 percent higher death rate from cancer
500 percent higher maternal death rate
240 percent higher infant death rate
300 percent higher death rate from asthma
80 percent higher rate of diabetes
43 percent higher rate of obesity
20 percent higher rate of high blood pressure
Hispanic Americans, compared with Caucasians have a:
30 percent higher death rate from heart disease
18 percent higher death rate from stroke
152 percent higher incidence rates for cancers of the cervix and stomach (63 percent higher in males and 150 percent higher in females)
higher death rate from HIV (160 percent for males, 330 percent for females)
62 percent higher rate of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
70 percent higher rate of diabetes
higher rate of obesity (7 percent higher in males, 32 percent higher in females)
100 percent higher mortality rate from asthma
Media Contact

Jennifer Lollar(205) 934-3888jpark@uab.edu