Addressing Cardiovascular Disease in Our Communities:
Access, Risk Factors, and Practical Solutions

GBHC hosted a community health forum on cardiovascular disease for service providers on May 9, 2007 at Brooklyn Borough Hall.  The training event was funded by the New York State Department of Health Healthy Heart Program and co-sponsored by the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health at SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn Community Heart Health Council, New York Methodist Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President

100 people attended the session from a range of organizations, including medical schools and institutes, hospitals, community-based providers, and city and state health departments.  Each attendee received an information packet that included a booklet and a CD on recent research findings in cardiovascular disease disparities among different groups, plus information on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of CVD and a list of Brooklyn stroke centers.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz gave the welcoming remarks and introduced a panel of distinguished speakers. The presentations were designed to discuss 1) the barriers to healthcare that result in disparities in cardiovascular disease among different populations, 2) the prevention of cardiovascular disease, and 3) community-based interventions to reduce disparities.

Click here to see photos from the event.

• Access to Care for CVD: Reducing Disparities
  Carla Boutin-Foster, MD, Assistant Professor, Cornell University Weill Medical College - click here for Dr. Foster's slide presentation

• CVD Risk Factors and Prevalence
  Kristie Lancaster, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, NYU

• Role of the Caregiver: Health Advocacy and Social Support
  Jody Steinhardt, MPH, Director, Senior Companion Program, Henry Street Settlement - click here for Ms. Steinhardt's slide presentation

• Act F.A.S.T. Curriculum - Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Stroke - click here for the brochure
  
  
• The 9-1-1 Media Campaign
  Anthony Tortolani, MD, Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital
  
  
• The Cardiac Screening Clinic and Community Outreach
  Maria Yomtov, RN, Director, Center for Community Health Promotion and Wellness, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - click here for Ms. Yomtov's slide presentation

After the presentations, Humberto Brown of the Arthur Ashe Institute moderated an open forum discussion during which attendees shared the challenges they face when addressing diseases of the heart and stoke in their work, as well as their ideas for how to reduce disparities.  Every speaker stayed for the discussion and responded to the audience's questions.

Attendee reactions and written evaluations show that the forum was a success.  Participants said that they learned the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and that the training provided them with knowledge to better serve their clients.  When asked what they would improve, respondents said the event should have been longer.  A large number of respondents asked for more events of this type and suggested areas of focus for future programming.