Health Crisis in America

Speaking in Newport Beach: Pat Crawford and S. Leonard Syme

Speaking in San Jose: Pat Crawford, Stephen Shortell, and Robert Tjian

Speakers

Pat Crawford
Director of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health and Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

"Weighing in on Reducing Obesity: An Individual Approach or a Population Solution?"

Professor Crawford will discuss changing trends in obesity for children and adults, promising new strategies for individual and environmental change, cost savings from obesity prevention efforts and California's leadership in addressing our state's high obesity rates.



S. Leonard Syme
Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health (Emeritus) and Director of the Research for Action Center
Speaking at Newport Beach only
"The Aging of Baby Boomers: Is Our Health Care System Ready?"

When the baby-boomer generation enters the over-65 year old population in the next 15 years or so, the number of people over 65 in the U.S. will double — and the impact on medical care in America will reach crisis proportions. Professor Syme will discuss shortcomings in our current prevention programs and why we should begin thinking about an entirely new approach to disease prevention and health promotion.



Stephen Shortell
Dean of the School of Public Health and Blue Cross of California Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management
Speaking in San Jose only
“America's Health System: The Poster Child for Underachievement"

Dean Shortell will discuss the cost, access, and quality challenges facing America’s health system. He will also propose some solutions and give his views on the likelihood of these suggestions being implemented by our next president.



Robert Tjian
Howard Hughes Investigator and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Director of the Berkeley Stem Cell Center
Speaking in San Jose only
“The Challenges and Potential of Stem Cell Therapy”

A world-renowned expert in the field of stem cell research, Professor Tjian will speak about the rapidly advancing biology of stem cells and its potential application to treat disease.