Source: David Procter, 785-532-6868, dprocter@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/procterbio.html
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

WAYS K-STATE WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH OF KANSANS, CITIZENS WORLDWIDE TO BE FEATURED AT OCT. 29 COLLOQUIUM

MANHATTAN -- What Kansas State University faculty and students are doing to improve the health of fellow Kansans and citizens worldwide will be highlighted at "Engaging Health, Changing Lives" from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Flint Hills Room at the K-State Student Union.

The colloquium is sponsored by the K-State Center for Engagement and Community Development. It is free and the public is welcome.

"In the midst of the national debate regarding health in America, it is important to hear about the contributions of K-State faculty and students to our state and nation's health," said David Procter, director of the Center for Engagement and Community Development. "This colloquium will highlight some of the important health work being conducted by K-Staters."

Keynote speaker will be Jim McLean, vice president for public affairs at the Kansas Health Institute, who will discuss "Critical Health Issues Facing Kansas and the U.S." shortly after 1 p.m. McLean's presentation will be followed by Michael Cates, director of K-State's Master of Public Health program, who will discuss "Public Health Work at K-State."

Also making presentations include the following K-State faculty members:

* 2 p.m., Lisa Freeman, associate vice president of the K-State Olathe Innovation Campus Inc., "One Health Kansas."

* 2:30 p.m., Elizabeth Fallon, assistant professor of kinesiology, "Kansas Health Care Professionals: Counseling for Lifestyle Behaviors."

* 3 p.m., David Ben-Arieh and John Wu, both professors of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, "Improving Efficiencies in Safety Net Health Clinics."

* 3:30 p.m., Elaine Johannes, K-State Research and Extension and assistant professor of family studies and human services, "Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Community Capacity Building."

* 4 p.m., K-State's Sajid Alavi, associate professor of grain science and industry, and Tandalayo Kidd, K-State Research and Extension and assistant professor of human nutrition, "Promoting Healthy Snacks Among School Children."

* 4:30 p.m., Erika Mason-Imbody, project coordinator for K-State's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, "Promoting Civil Citizen Participation in Health Care Deliberation."

The mission of the Center for Engagement and Community Development is to promote engagement across the breadth of K-State -- in teaching, research, and outreach -- and to connect the vast resources of K-State to the significant issues of public need facing Kansas and communities worldwide.