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U.VA. CANCER CENTER TO HOST FORUM TO ADDRESS RACIAL HEALTHCARE GAP IN THE U.S. HEALTH SYSTEM

Among the African-American community, cancer is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death for both men and women. According to a 1998 report published by the American Cancer Society, cancer death rates for African-Americans are higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. In addition, African-Americans diagnosed with the disease die sooner than whites at all stages of their diagnosis.

Cornel West, Ph.D., professor of Afro-American studies and the philosophy of religion at Harvard University, will discuss how race affects overall health during a forum about minority healthcare issues. The forum will occur on Friday, October 6, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Old Cabell Hall auditorium at the University of Virginia. West will speak from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and take questions from the audience for the remaining half-hour.

In order to improve minority health, it is important to highlight this chasm that exists between race and healthcare in order to shift the paradigm as to how the medical community approaches healthcare issues, said David Cattell-Gordon, director of community relations for the U.Va. Cancer Center.

West has written numerous articles and fifteen books, including The American Evasion of Philosophy, Jews and Blacks, The Future of the Race and Restoring Hope. His book, Race Matters, quickly achieved best-seller status in both editions and gained the attention of Time magazine and Newsweek, causing both publications to run extensive profile articles on him.

West graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in three years from Harvard University in 1973. He received his M.A. in 1975 and Ph.D. in 1980, both from Princeton University. Recently, West was promoted to university professor at Harvard University, a title held only by a handful of faculty members. He is one of the first black scholars to be appointed to the university's highest faculty post.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, is part of a series of community lectures presented by the U.Va. Cancer Center to engage in serious discussion about race in America. This event is co-sponsored by a number of organizations, including the Carter G. Woodson Institute for Afro-American and African Studies, the U.Va. Black Student Association, the NAACP at U.Va. and the Center for Improving Minority Health at the U.Va. Health System.

October 3, 2000