For Immediate Release:
September 8, 2000

CONTACT: David Ong
(916) 734-9040

CONFERENCE, WELLNESS FAIR FOCUSES ON HEALTH OF OLDER WOMEN

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The fourth annual UC Davis Women's Health Conference and Wellness Fair, which focuses on the health of women 50 and older, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, at California State University, Sacramento. Presented by the UC Davis Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and the CSUS gerontology department, the conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the University Ballroom.

Each year, more than 400 senior women attend the conference to hear the most current health information from leading experts in their fields. Community organizations, pharmaceutical companies and local businesses participate in the Wellness Fair to provide educational materials and health screenings.

The conference is held as an appreciation event for the 4,000 WHI participants at UC Davis Medical Center but is also open to the public. Cost is $25 for the general public and $10 for WHI participants. Contact Alison Book, conference coordinator, at (916) 734-0130 with questions or to receive a registration form.

WHI is a 13-year, national study of 161,000 women aged 50-79. UC Davis is one of 40 sites across the country participating in the study. WHI is the most comprehensive women's health research study ever undertaken and will provide vital information about prevention and treatment of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis in women.

Wellness Fair participants and sponsors this year include: the American Association of Retired Persons, the Agency for Hearing, the American Cancer Society, the Area 4 Agency on Aging, the Arthritis Foundation, Beltone Hearing Aid Centers, the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program, Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center, 50+ Wellness Program, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study, Health Rights Hotline, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), Home Instead Senior Care, InfoLine Sacramento, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA), Save Ourselves Breast Cancer Organization, Secure Horizons, UC Davis Cancer Center, UC Davis Center for Aging & Health, UC Davis Hospice Program, Wyeth-Ayerst, and Y-ME of Davis.

The conference program is as follows:

8-9 a.m. Registration, continental breakfast & Wellness Fair

9-9:05 a.m. Welcome & Introductions: Alison Book, conference coordinator

9:05-10 a.m. "Doctor, I Can't Sleep": Evaluation & Treatment of Insomnia -- Lydia Wytrezes, MD, director, Sutter Sleep Disorders Center

10-10:20 a.m. Break

10:20-11a.m. Media Reports, Scientific Data, & Dr. RobbinsŐ Opinion: An Update on WHI, Breast Cancer, Heart Disease & Other Medical Research Issues --John Robbins, MD, WHI principal investigator and professor of medicine, UC Davis

11a.m.-12:15 p.m. "Ask the Doctor" Luncheon: A Health Q&A Session with John Robbins, MD -- Lunch and a questions & answer free-for-all! Bring your health questions and Dr.Robbins will answer them.

12:15-1:10 p.m. Insights Into Caregiving: Cheryl Osborne, EdD, director of gerontology & professor of nursing, California State University, Sacramento

1:10-1:30 p.m. Break

1:30-2:25 p.m. "Use It or Lose It!": Active Living -- Kathryn Shae, PT, MPH, co-director, A Step Ahead -- Partnering Elder Services

2:25-3:20 p.m. Sexuality & Intimacy in Aging: Renee Chevraux, MSW, instructor, American River College Gerontology Program & medical social worker, Sierra Nevada Home Care

3:20-3:30 p.m. Closing & Evaluations

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