Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 11:44:25 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199801291644.LAA06758@golden.brown.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
To: medsoc@csf.colorado.edu
From: Phil_Brown@brown.edu (Phil Brown)
Subject: Health Geographics Conference
Some of you may be interested in this conference:


>First International Health Geographics Conference
>October 16-18 1998
>
>Venue: The Maritime Institute of Technology, Baltimore, Maryland
>
>Sponsors:
>The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
>Environmental Systems Research Institute, (ESRI) Inc.
>(Additional Sponsors/Supporters Invited)
>
>
>Background:  The broad field of health care is increasingly intertwined
>with global information issues, and thus involves the integration of
>many disciplines.  A significant and important characteristic of health
>and medical information is the geographic relevance on the macroscale
>(e.g., nationwide access to health care, control of malaria, or climatic
>effects on disease), at the mesoscale (e.g., regional emergency
>services, local access to health facilities), and microscale (e.g.,
>managing the treatment of melanoma on the human body).  As the needs of
>the various health fields have grown in size, scope and complexity, so
>too has the information technology necessary to capture/acquire, manage,
>analyze, present and otherwise support the information in ways that
>increase our knowledge base of the problems and issues confronting us,
>and inform sound actions based on this information.
>
>Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved as an empowering
>technology, enabling the health geographics professional to use, analyze
>and present information in ways not possible with textual and numerical
>information systems (e.g., word processors, data bases, spreadsheets). 
>With GIS, the user is able to analyze the spatial and pattern
>information inherent in the geographically based health data.  In
>comparison with other relevant technologies, GIS offers greater
>awareness and ability to respond to health care, medical and research
>issues at the appropriate  scale.  The robustness of GIS is illustrated
>best by a diverse variety applications:  space/time cluster analysis,
>spatial trends, siting of facilities, modeling heterogeneity with
>covariates, optimizing delivery of goods and services, predicting risk,
>exposure assessment, identifying at-risk populations and defining
>corrective interventions, image classification, spatial reasoning and
>cognition, spatial multimedia, animation, visualization, correlations
>and so on.
>
>Purpose of Conference:  The First International Health Geographics
>Conference (IHGC) will comprehensively bring together for the first time
>people from many different disciplines who share a common foundation: 
>the geographic aspects of health.  The IHGC will foster dialogue between
>health care providers, researchers, managers, and policy analysts,  i.e
>doctors, medical researchers, epidemiologists, environmental scientists,
>geographers, geologists, computer scientists, statisticians,
>hydrologists, entomologists, toxicologists, ecologists, business
>managers, regulators, and indeed, all those appreciative of the links
>between GIS and health.  
>
>Our focus is unrestricted within the domain of GIS and health; we seek
>to promote international dialogue and shared learning through the
>presentation and discussion of high-quality research and applications. 
>There are a variety of disciplines already identified to lead us towards
>this aim; case examples from Managed Care, Insurance, Pharmaceuticals,
>Epidemiology, Demography, Environmental Health,
>Infrastructure/Facilities Management,  Emergency Systems, Medicine,
>Web-based GIS, MIS, Community Health and others will be integrated with
>Methods and Processes focusing on Data Creation/Acquisition, Spatial &
>Statistical Analysis, Data Dissemination/Presentation, Automated
>Systems, and Health Information Management to provide a uniquely
>informative and enjoyable experience for attendees.
>
>Keynote Speakers:
>
>Jack Dangermond, Chairman, Environmental Systems Research Institute,
>Inc.
>Alfred Sommer, MD MHSc, Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public
>Health - invited
>Robert Lawrence, MD, Associate Dean, Professional and Graduate
>Education, Johns Hopkins School of  Hygiene & Public Health
>John Wennberg, MD MPH, Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences,
>Dartmouth Medical School -invited
>Patrick Gerland, UNSTAT
>Edward Tufte PhD, Yale University - invited
>Geoffrey M.  Jacquez, PhD, President, BioMedWare
>Others TBA
>
>Conference Format
>
>Day 1
>
>Welcome and conference overview (Ric Skinner, The EADS Group and Omar
>Khan, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Co-chairs, International
>Health Geographics Conference)
>
>Keynote speaker -TBA
>
>Workshop I- Statistical Issues (Chair: Subhash Lele, Johns Hopkins
>School of Public Health)
>
>Workshop II -- Community Health Status Assessment and Interventions
>(Robert  Aronson, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health - invited)
>
>Workshop III * Data to Decision Making (media types, formats, Atlases)
>(Bruce Campbell, UNFPA/Royal Tropical Institute)
> 
>Workshop IV * Information technology and Web-based GIS (Bill Davenhall,
>ESRI; others TBA)
>
>Workshop V- Applications for Public Health Using GIS (Jayanth
>Devasundaram, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Patrick
>Gerland, UNSTAT)
>
>Workshop VI -Design requirements of health GIS (Geoffrey M. Jacquez,
>BioMedWare)
>
>Workshop VII * GIS and Health Care Applications  (Bill Timmins,
>Scientific Technology Corporation)
>
>Others TBA
>
>Orientation: evening (IHGC Organizing Committee)
>
>
>Discussion Groups:
>- GIS and Geographical Targeting for Poverty Reduction and Rural
>Development (Facilitator: David Bigman, The World Bank)
> - Case studies from GIS in developing countries (Facilitator: Richard
>Mroczynski, Third World Foundation- invited)
>- NASA discussion group on GIS and Remote Sensing (Facilitator: Byron
>Wood, NASA)
>Others TBA
>
>Day 2
>
>General Session2:  Welcome/keynote: TBA
>
>Concurrent Sessions:
>A. I, II, III, IV: Public Health  (Environmental Health, Health
>Statistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy, International Health,
>Microbiology)  
>Chairs:   Greg Gurri-Glass, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
> Martin Hugh-Jones, Lousiana State University/WHOCC on Remote Sensing
> Isabelle Nuttall, WHO HealthMap Project
> Donald Roberts, USUHS
> Linda Pickle, NCHS/CDC
>B.  Infrastructure/Facilities Management (Bill Davenhall, ESRI; others
>TBA)
>C. Medicine/ Veterinary Medicine (Peter Cowen, North Carolina State
>University)
>D.  Emergency Systems (Kevin Tonat, FEMA)
>
>12:00 - 1:30 p.m. -- Luncheon & Speaker
> 
>1:30 * 4: 30 -- Concurrent Sessions Continue
>
>4:30 - 6:00 p.m. -- Sponsored Mixer
>
>6:00 - 7:00 p.m. -- Dinner & Speaker
>
>7:00 * 9:00 p.m. -- Late Breakers, Discussion Groups:
>- GIS and Development (Facilitator: Omar Khan, Johns Hopkins School of
>Public Health)
>- Considerations for GIS in developing countries (Facilitator: Michael
>McDonald, BASICS -invited)
>
>Others TBA
>
>
>Day 3
>
>Keynote speaker *TBA
>
>8 * 12 : Concurrent sessions
>
>A.  Public Health, I, II, III, IV
>B.  Social Services
>C.  Community Health  (Chair: Joseph Lovett, CSU)
>D.  Managed Care and the private health provision sector (Invited Chair:
>Blue Cross)
> 
>12:00 - 1:00 p.m. -- Lunch (informal interaction)
>
>Discussion Group: GIS and Epidemiologic applications (Facilitator: Bill
>Hoffman, ESRI)
>Discussion Group: Johns Hopkins Working Group on GIS
> 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. -- Concurrent Sessions Continue 
>
>3:00 - 4:30 p.m. -- General Session: Conference Wrap-up
>
>IHGC Organizing Committee (confirmed to date; others to be invited):
>
>Omar Khan, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (Co-chair) 
>Ric Skinner, The EADS Group (Co-chair)
>Subhash Lele, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
>Jayanth Devasundaram, State of Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental
>Hygiene
>Bill Davenhall, ESRI
>Kim Anderson, ESRI
>Tom Usselman, National Academy of Sciences
>Barb Tempalski, University of Washington
>Rowland Tinline, Queen's GIS Lab, Ontario
>Martin Hugh-Jones, Louisiana State University/WHO Collaborating Center
>on Remote Sensing
>Stephanie Wiegel, Colorado State University
>Joe Lovett, CA State-San Bernadino
>Susan Lambert, State of Kentucky
>Wilfred Cuff, Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control
>Jim Burdine, Felix, Burdine & Associates
>
>Others to be added between now and final program, Jan 31 1998.  We
>invite participation and content reviewers from all relevant fields.
>
>
>Submission of papers and posters (deadline: April 30, 1998)
>
> Please forward an abstract of your proposed paper to the below address
>for earliest consideration. Abstracts should be less than 450 words. 
>Please also indicate your preference for a paper or poster.  In
>addition, if you have a discussion group you would like to form, or be
>part of, from the information in this announcement, write a short letter
>to this effect.  
>
>As all the content topics have not been determined, we welcome papers
>pertaining to GIS in health.  Following your submission the review
>committee will contact you to make recommendations on sessions and
>presentation format.
>
> More information on the IHGC will be sent in late January, 1998. 
>
>
>Address for correspondence, paper submission and general inquiries:
>
>
>International Health Geographics Conference Committee
>C/o Omar A. Khan, Co-Chair
>1600 Ruxton Road, Suite B7     Email: okhan@jhuccp.org
>Baltimore, Maryland 21204     PH: 410-659-6149
>USA        FAX: 410-659-6266
>

            
>
>International Health Geographics Conference
>16-18 October, 1998
>Maritime Institute, Baltimore, MD
>Mapping health into the future
>
>REGISTRATION FORM 
>for Participants and Presenters
>Please provide us with the information requested below
>
>Name:
                            
>       
>
>Organization:
                          
>     
>
>Title:
                               
>       
>
>Address:
                            
>      
>
>City                                                
>State                          Zip                       
>
>Phone:                                                  
>Fax:                                        
>       
>
>Email:
                              
>       
>
>Name as you like to appear on your conference badge: 
>
                                    
>
>If you need additional copies of this form to register other people from
>your organization, please xerox and complete.  Multiple forms may be
>mailed with one check and in the same envelope.
>
>Early Registration Discount
>
>A discount is available for forms sent in by June 30, 1998.  On-site
>registration is also available. Students can register at any time.  It
>is strongly recommended that you register as early as possible since
>space at the conference is limited.
>
>
>Registration Fees:
>
>Early registration for conference   $ 145   
>Late registration (after June 30, 1998)   $ 170   
>Student registration      $  40
>
>Conference Registration Fees Includes:
>
> - Three days of presentations/technical sessions
>- Conference Proceedings
>- Exhibits from a variety of GIS software developers and users
>- Morning and break refreshments.
>- On site facsimile and computer facilities 
>
>Payment of Fees
>
>Please send in check or money order made payable to the International
>Health Geographics Conference or IHGC to:
>
>IHGC
>1600 Ruxton Road, Suite B7
>Towson, Maryland 21204
>(410) 659-6169 (day) / (410) 821-8703 (eve)
>(410) 659-6266 (fax)
>
>E-mail:okhan@jhuccp.org
>
>  
>Cancellation Policy for Conference
>
>Prior to August 30, 1998:    Full refund
>After August 30, 1998:        $ 50 refund
>
>Hotel Accommodations
>
>A block of single rooms have been reserved at the following:
>
>Maritime Institute $109 single per night (includes 3 meals)
>   $159 double per night (includes 3 meals for each)
>AmeriSuites  $ 89 per night
>Marriot  $ 85 per night
>Comfort Suites $ 79 per night
>
>Please call between January 15  and September 15, 1998  and mention the
>International Health Geographic Conference for 1998 for reservations. 
>Please call (410)
>659-6169 if you have any problems reserving rooms or would like other
>arrangements.
>
>Travel
>Shuttle service will be available at specific times from each hotel to
>the conference site and
>back.  At the time of your reservation, please arrange with the hotel of
>your stay for shuttle
>service from the airport.
>
>

Phil Brown, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Brown University
Box 1916
Providence RI 02912
(401) 863-2633 (secretary 863-2367)
fax (401) 863-3213