Donald Warne, director of NDSU’s Master of Public Health Program, is scheduled to be a panel member at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s event titled, "American Indian Health Equity and the Affordable Care Act." The presentation and panel discussion are set for Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. at Black Bear Crossings on the Lake near Como Park in St. Paul, Minn.
The keynote speaker will be U.S. Sen. Al Franken from Minnesota. Fellow guest panelist Dick Woodruff, vice president of the Cancer Action Network Federal Relations and Strategic Alliances, will join Warne.
According to a Cancer Action Network news release, improving access to quality affordable health care is critical to winning the fight against cancer. The focus of the event is to explore the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the American Indian community.
"Unfortunately, American Indians, particularly in our region, suffer from among the worst disparities in cancer incidence and deaths in the United States," Warne said. "As a member of the national board of directors of the American Cancer Society, I have focused much of my effort on ensuring that these disparities are a part of the national dialogue, and that we develop effective methods to improve outcomes. The event with Sen. Franken and the Cancer Action Network is an outstanding opportunity to increase awareness of these issues and to discuss ways to intervene effectively."
In addition, Warne presented and facilitated a breakout session at the first annual Native Health Career Student Development Conference at United Tribes Technical College Sept. 21 in Bismarck, N.D. He was joined by a panel of Native students in a variety of healthcare programs including pharmacy, occupational therapy, medicine, epidemiology and public health. Warne also facilitated the professional panel of Natives in Health and Academics.
He also recently attended the World Diabetes Congress in Berlin, Germany. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for the International Diabetes Federation Conference in Melbourne, Australia, scheduled for December 2013. Warne was selected as the representative for the indigenous people conference track for the conference and will be responsible for selecting and organizing the sessions related to indigenous people.
In addition to his duties at NDSU, Warne has served as a senior policy consultant for American Indian Health Management and Policy Inc. of Tempe, Ariz.; a senior policy adviser for the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board in Rapid City, S.D.; and an adjunct clinical professor in the Indian Legal Program of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.
Warne earned a Master of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health and a Doctor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
http://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/ihas/IHAS_Schedule/2012_Archive/ihas10152012.pdf