2008 Presidential Debate | The University of Mississippi

September 18, 2008

UM, American Heart Association Host Seminar on Reinventing Health Care

OXFORD, Miss. - The American Heart Association, in partnership with the University of Mississippi, is convening a panel of top business, government and health leaders to examine the nation's health care system in preparation for the year's first presidential debate.

The program, "Reinventing Health Care," is slated for 7-9 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 24) in Fulton Chapel on the Ole Miss campus. The session is one of the signature events leading up to the debate, set for Sept. 26 in the UM Ford Center for the Performing Arts. "With 45 million uninsured Americans and millions more underinsured in a health care system that has not adequately served the best interests of patients, we cannot wait any longer for change," said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, immediate past president of the American Heart Association and vice chancellor for health affairs of the UM Medical Center. "The association strongly believes that this discussion can provide a framework that will address the challenges facing those who don't have access to quality health care."

The program, produced by Fred Friendly Seminars of Columbia University, focuses on health policy reform in relation to the 2008 presidential election campaign.

Panelists were selected to offer a wide range of viewpoints from different perspectives and industries. Besides Dr. Jones, confirmed participants include Bill Novelli, CEO of the American Association of Retired Persons; T.R. Reid, Washington Post journalist; David Walker, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former U.S. Comptroller General; Regina Herzlinger, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School; and Dave Ratner, small business owner.

Fred Friendly Seminars bring together groups of panelists and involves them in hypothetical scenarios spun by moderators. The results often reveal the complexity of the issues with greater depth and drama than a standard debate.

"We are pleased to host this important discussion of health issues with the American Heart Association," UM Chancellor Robert Khayat said. "This is a matter of critical importance to every American, and we look forward to the insights this program may reveal. By carefully examining all facets of the issue, we can help find solutions that will improve health care for millions of people across our country."

The seminar is to be webcast live at http://www.news.olemiss.edu.
An edited version is to air on Louisiana Public Broadcasting and Mississippi Public Broadcasting stations at 9 p.m. Oct. 16, one day after the third presidential debate, which is to focus on health care and other domestic issues. The program also is to air on other PBS stations across the country this fall.

Some 80 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases, and lack of health insurance and quality of care pose tremendous problems for many of these people. To learn more about the American Heart Association's efforts to reform our nation's health care system, visit www.heartsforhealthcare.org.

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