V.I. Commissioner of Health Julia Sheen will be one of the presenters at the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Friday in Washington D.C.
Sheen will join panelists in a discussion on the forgotten voices in health care, giving the perspective of health care in the territories in general and the U.S. Virgin Islands in particular, according to a statement released by Delegate Donna Christensen.
“This year’s health braintrust is particularly important as committees in both the House and the Senate continue to deliberate on a comprehensive reform package,” Christensen said. “For years we have discussed these issues, and we are now at a place that many important steps will be taken to provide health care for all.”
Christensen, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus’s Health Braintrust, is spearheading Friday’s daylong session, "Addressing the Forgotten Faces and Voices of Health Reform," at the Washington Convention Center. Sessions will include Cutting to the Chase: What Health Care Reform Will Mean For You; Redeeming the Forgotten Voices: Pathways to Justice; a luncheon presentation on Health Care Needs Versus Health Care Spending; Opportunities in Health Care Reform: Filling the Gaps Around Scoring, Prevention and Health Equity and Using Health Care Reform to Create Community-Centric Efforts. The day will close with a discussion with national experts on "The Next Steps Toward Reform that Transforms."
Thursday, Christensen will co-chair the annual forum on HIV/AIDS with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, this year entitled: "Yes We Can, Fighting HIV/AIDS in the age of Obama."
Christensen will receive several awards this week for her work in health care and other important issues before the Congress – one this evening from the National Organization of Black County Officials for her dedication and commitment to bettering the lives of people, and on Saturday from the National Minority AIDS Coalition for her continued advocacy on behalf of those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
She has also invited several young Virgin Islanders to attend the Emerging Leaders sessions at the conference; they include Neal Williams, Karida Green, Kris Benjamin and Shanna O’Reilly.
