Health Crisis in America

Hear about the incredible promise that stem-cell research holds. Learn about emerging approaches for fighting obesity. Discuss the potential for improvement in America’s health system.

March 21

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.

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.

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
S. Leonard Syme, Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health (Emeritus) and Director of the Research for Action Center

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March 30

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.

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.

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.

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
Stephen Shortell, Dean of the School of Public Health and Blue Cross of California Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management
Robert Tjian, Howard Hughes Investigator and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Director of the Berkeley Stem Cell Center