Donald Warne, director of NDSU’s Master of Public Health program, and senior Andrew Dalman are scheduled to give presentations at Health Pitch 2014, a community event to showcase ideas on improving health care. Hosted by non-profit healthcare provider Family HealthCare, the second annual event is set for Aug. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at The Stage at Fargo’s Island Park.
Health Pitch 2014 gives a platform for healthcare providers, solution providers, educators and the public to hear ideas about solving healthcare issues and improving the well-being of the community. The event will feature 15 regional leaders who have three minutes to “pitch” their idea for innovation in the field of healthcare and wellness. Some topics will include mobile healthcare apps, new medical technologies and mental health awareness.
“I will discuss the need for a Preservation and Advancement of Traditional Healing program, known as PATH, in which we would work with traditional healers and medicine men from regional tribes to ensure the development of apprenticeship programs in a culturally appropriate manner,” Warne explained. “Many tribes are losing their traditional healers, and traditional cultural approaches could be significant and important in addressing contemporary health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, substance abuse and other conditions.”
According to Warne, the PATH program could provide resources to tribes and to healers to ensure that their cultural healing traditions are passed on to future generations. He said the NDSU Master of Public Health program could be a valuable partner in the process.
Dalman, who is a manufacturing engineering major from Minneapolis, is a University Innovation Fellow of the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation.
The event’s keynote speaker is scheduled to be Shane Waslaski, president and CEO of Intelligent InSites, a software company.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-pitch-fargo-2014-tickets-11096958301. All proceeds will support Family HealthCare.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.