FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sue Rochman Communications Director
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association 415-255-4547, ext. 309; [email protected]; http://www.glma.org
Media Tip Sheet for the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's 16th Annual Symposium
GLMA's 16th Annual Symposium will be held August 27-29 in Chicago at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
GLMA can provide background information on, and can arrange interviews for articles related to, these plenaries and workshops.
Hot Topics ï The Moral Imperative of Universal Health Care Congressman Barney Frank, JD (Keynote address, 8:45am-10:00am, Sat., Aug. 29.)
ï Should LGBT Physicians Lead the Charge for Universal Health Care? Congressman Barney Frank and Quentin Young, MD, leaders in the fight for health care reform, will discuss possible solutions for the millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans, describe the myriad problems patients face within our current health care system, and challenge gay and lesbian physicians to begin advocating for health care reform. (Plenary, 10:00am-11:15am, Sat., Aug. 29)
ï Sexual Orientation Genetics Research: Ethical and Legal Implications Research into whether there is a "gay gene" is important in the theory of human social development. The lesbian and gay community, however, is divided over whether this type of research should be conducted. Prenatal testing, selective abortion, and testing of adults for sexual orientation, are realistic fears stemming from the discrimination and prejudice gay men and lesbians experience. This plenary, with leading experts Tim Murphy, PhD, J. Michael Bailey, PhD, and Aaron S. Greenberg, JD, will explore the intersection of patient interest, physicians' morals, and the frontiers of scientific research. (Plenary, 8:45am-10:00am, Thurs. Aug. 27) (more)
ï Hepatitis C-The New Public Health Challenge: Eastern and Western Approaches to Treatment Hepatitis--in particular Hepatitis C--is of growing concern to physicians and public health officials. This workshop with Anthony Rodriguez, MD, who recently attended the CDC consultant's meeting on Hepatitis C, and Misha R. Cohen, OMD, LAc, will discuss medical risk factors and screening for Hepatitis; medical treatments for Hepatitis A,B, and C; and the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of Hepatitis C. (Workshop, 11:30am-12:30pm, Fri. Aug. 28)
ï Safer Sex Education for Married Men Who Have Sex with Men Most safer sex program fail to address the specific needs of married men who have sex with men. Yet, a pilot study has found that these men have incomplete knowledge of HIV transmission, engage in high-risk sex acts with men, have negative perceptions of a gay lifestyle, had sex with men before they were married, and have good emotional relationships with their wives, but decreased sexual activity with them. The type of safer sex workshops that need to be created to reach these men will be addressed. (Workshop, 11:30am-12:30pm, Fri. Aug. 28)
HIV/AIDS ï Antiretroviral Therapy: Prescriptions for Living Well Nationally renowned HIV/AIDS experts Donald Abrams, MD, and Joel Gallant, MD, MPH, will discuss current issues in HIV/AIDS antiretroviral treatment; when to start treatment and which drugs to use; the role of adherence in preventing drug resistance; and strategies for minimizing drug resistance.
(Plenary, 8:45am-10:00am, Fri. Aug. 28)
ï HIV Prevention and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Studies are currently being conducted on the efficacy and acceptability of PEP and on how gay men's attitudes and behaviors have changed since PEP has been made more widely available. This workshop by HIV/AIDS experts Ken Mayer, MD, and David Ostrow, MD, PhD, will discuss a provider education program being developed in Chicago, preliminary results from PEP studies conducted in Boston and Rhode Island, and how to educate at-risk patients and their providers about PEP without encouraging relapse into unsafe sex. (Plenary, 10:00am-11:15am, Fri. Aug. 28)
ï The Silver Wave: HIV/AIDS in the Senior Population Older people with HIV/AIDS remain invisible in our society. Yet, between 10 and 15 percent of AIDS cases are in persons over 50--and many family physicians may not be aware of HIV risk assessment screening and interventions for older persons. This workshop by HIV and gerontology expert Nathan Linsk, PhD, will explore issues including diagnosis and care, social support, and both HIV and age-related discrimination. (Workshop, 1:45pm-3:00pm, Thurs. Aug. 27) (more)
Lesbian Health ï Breast Cancer: Are Lesbians Really More at Risk? Many articles in the popular press have led lesbians to believe they are more at risk than heterosexual women of developing breast cancer. Yet, there have been no studies published on sexual orientation and risk for breast cancer. In this workshop, Stephanie Roberts, MD, and Suzanne Dibble, DNSc, will discuss their pilot study, forthcoming in the Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, that compares breast cancer risk factors in self-identified lesbian and heterosexual women. Their retrospective chart review is the first study to compare risk factors between lesbians and heterosexuals and breast cancer rates. (Workshop, 11:30am-12:30pm, Thurs. Aug. 27)
ï Stress, Homophobia, and Lesbian Health As members of a discriminated group, lesbians face external and internal stressors that can negatively impact their health. Joanne DiPlacido, PhD, will present the results of the first-ever study to examine psychosocial risk factors and health outcomes among lesbians. This study looks at the association between behavior risk factors, stress, and overall health and well-being--an approach that has been used extensively to study health in heterosexuals--and explores the ways in which societal discrimination and prejudice can impact self-esteem, depression, and other health issues. (Workshop, 1:45pm-3:00pm, Thurs. Aug. 27)
Gay and Lesbian Youth ï Caring for HIV-Positive Youth It is estimated that 25 percent of those in the United States with HIV were infected by the age of 21--and that every hour a new youth under the age of 21 becomes infected. Yet, many youth don't think of themselves as at risk for HIV. This workshop will explore the epidemiology of HIV infection in youth, and how current treatment guidelines should be applied to HIV-positive youth. (Workshop, 1:45pm-2:45pm, Fri. Aug. 28)
ï Primary Care Needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Youth Gay and lesbian youth may not access needed primary care services out of fear of disclosure of their sexual identity and sexual behaviors to providers and family members. This workshop will discuss methods of conducting a medical history and physical examination that are helpful in gaining the trust and increasing the comfort of gay and lesbian youth, and describe current outreach efforts to increase the visibility of services available for these youth. (Workshop, 11:30am-12:30pm, Sat. Aug. 29)
ï Healing Young Minds--The Voices of LGBT Youth This workshop will feature youth peer educators from Horizons Community Services, the Midwest's largest LGBT social services agency, who will discuss the health issues they face and their experiences in obtaining services from health professionals. (Workshop, 1:45pm-3:00pm, Sat. Aug. 29)
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