Note to Editors: To make arrangements to cover the Forum, contact Jim Spiegelman at 202-736-3849 or jim.spiegelman@aspeninstitute.org.
Aspen Institute and The Atlantic Present Inaugural Aspen Health Forum
Washington, DC, September 17, 2007— Organized by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic magazine, the Aspen Health Forum will convene more than 125 world-class medical scientists, including Nobel Prize laureates and prominent NIH officials, as well as thought leaders in health care and health policy, to explore the most challenging issues and exciting developments in bioscience and how they can be used to bring about better health for everyone. The Forum will be held at the Aspen Meadows Resort and Conference Center on the campus of the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo., October 3-6, 2007.
“There are hundreds of conferences where researchers can argue about genomes or clinicians can debate the latest treatments,” said Forum Director Dr. Michelle McMurry. “What makes the Aspen Health Forum different is that it is the only place where laypeople can go to learn about medical science and its vital implications for their lives, investments and political interests.”
“Medical science is becoming more and more a part of people’s lives whether or not they realize it,” said Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Director of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health and one of the Forum speakers. “That being the case, the Forum features experts on some of the most pressing health care issues of today, such as cancer and heart disease, but also includes scientists looking at the health care issues of tomorrow, such as stem cell research, longevity, and brain health.”
More than 100 medical science and health care leaders are on tap to participate in the program, including:
- Peter Agre, Nobel Prize laureate and medical scientist
- J. Michael Bishop, Nobel Prize laureate and cancer research pioneer
- Alice Dautry, President, Institut Pasteur
- Victor Dzau, Duke University Chancellor for Health Affairs and a leading authority on heart disease
- Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a top expert on HIV/AIDS
- Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine
- Bill Frist, Former US Senate Majority Leader and physician
- Ellis Rubinstein, President, New York Academy of Sciences
- Eric Schlosser, Author of Fast Food Nation
- Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse and a leading authority on drug addiction
Session topics will include path-breaking developments in the fight against cancer, diabetes and heart disease; the human genome and personalized medicine; the latest research on nutrition, aging, and exercise; innovative approaches to infectious and chronic illnesses; and the hospital of the future.
In addition to the scientific and medical discussions, the Forum will feature sessions on health care reform and the presidential campaigns, international models of science funding, the rise of medical tourism, and the politics of nutrition. The program will also include screenings of films such as Fast Food Nation, hosted by author Eric Schlosser, and a sneak peek at an installment of the upcoming PBS series The Mysterious Human Heart. Also featured will be two exhibits of medical art.
The event is open to the public and all are welcome. Full- and single-day passes are available. To register, please contact Forum Registrar Deborah Murphy at 970-544-7960 or at deborah.murphy@aspeninstitute.org. For complete information about the Forum, including the program agenda and a full list of speakers, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ahf.
Since 1857, The Atlantic (http://www.theatlantic.com/) has aspired to challenge and engage the nation’s thought leaders by consistently offering unique, in-depth editorial on a range of topics from politics, business, and the economy to technology, arts, and culture. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in November 2007, The Atlantic continues to cover the issues of the day with original insight and fresh perspective, to push the edge of inquiry toward tomorrow’s concerns, to inform American opinion leaders, and to lead the national conversation.
The Aspen Institute, founded in 1950, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. Through seminars, policy programs, conferences and leadership development initiatives, the Institute and its international partners seek to promote nonpartisan inquiry and an appreciation for timeless values. The Institute is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has campuses in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Its international network includes partner Aspen Institutes in Berlin, Rome, Lyon, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Bucharest, and leadership programs in Africa, Central America and India.
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