SUNY Downstate to Confront Adolescent Health Issues
May 5, 2006
Studies show disturbing trends in the health of American teenagers. Rates of childhood
obesity and diabetes, for example, continue to rise. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences
University is making adolescent health a priority by addressing health topics and
issues on Thursday, May 11 in a special youth conference.
In partnership with Medgar Evers College and New World Creation Ministries, Inc.,
SUNY Downstate will present “Breakin’ Off the Chain on Adolescent Health Issues,”
a symposium organized to discuss current health trends among young adults. The event
will be held at Medgar Evers College at 1650 Bedford Avenue from 4-9 p.m. Admission
is free but registration is required due to limited space. Parental consent forms
are also required for youths between the ages of 13-17.
This is the fourth symposium in SUNY Downstate’s “Dine & Learn Health Symposium”series.
Panel discussions and lectures will focus on obesity, diabetes, depression, HIV/AIDS,
and other health concerns affecting young people.
The message SUNY Downstate wants to convey to teenagers is that youth does not guarantee
them immunity from disease and health problems. Young people should walk away thinking
about their current lifestyle choices and how these patterns of behavior put them
at risk for developing chronic and fatal diseases in adulthood.
“As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we have a responsibility not only
to heal but to educate and empower today’s youth to make better lifestyle choices,”
said symposium organizer Karen Jemmott, director of Physician Outreach at SUNY Downstate.
Attendees will be treated to dinner and health screening, and exhibitions will also
be available. A sneaker contest, hip-hop entertainment, and prize giveaways are scheduled
for the event.
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the only academic medical center in Brooklyn,
serving more than 2 million people within the borough. SUNY Downstate is located
at 450 Clarkson Avenue.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.