Health Conference Held at SJSU
By Osvaldo Castillo
El Observador
On Tuesday, April 6, the 4th Annual Global Health Conference was held at San Jose State University and was hosted by the Master's of Pubic Health Student Association. The event celebrated Global Health Day and four leaders who were concerned with health issues around the world and locally. The leaders were Joshua To, Jennifer Aengst, Henry Fisher Raymond and Alberto Perez Rendon.
Joshua To, a social entrepreneur focused on the power of design and technology and founded Brute Labs, a volunteer run non-profit organization.
"Brute Labs is run by people who have full time jobs but also want to help the community," To said. "We have conceived 14 projects since we first launched."
RUN! is one of those projects. The project encourages children from low-income communities to exercise and stay fit.
Henry Fisher Raymond, MPH, Dr PH(c) has 15 years of experience in HIV prevention. He studied the way homosexual and bisexual men and their lifestyles where handled in the countries of Uganda and China.
"Homosexuals and bisexuals are punished unfairly in Uganda," Raymond said. "Punishment includes 14 years in prison for being identified as a homosexual and seven years for trying to help a homosexual."
The treatment is much different in China. Homosexuals are actually encouraged to explore and express their sexuality.
"This is not necessarily a good thing because many of these men are not aware of the risk involved with unprotected sex."
Alberto Perez Rendon, MD, and MPH. In 2003, Alberto co-founded the Asociacion Mayab, an organization that provides social and prevention services to Maya immigrants in the Bay Area.
"Many of the new immigrants are indigenous people from Mexico," Rendon said. "These immigrants are scared to go to the doctor because the doctors do not look like them. There is a level of distrust."
Rendon says his organization helps these immigrants overcome the distrust they feel.
For more information on these programs visit www.sjsu.edu/healthscience/programs/mph. ∆

PHOTO CAPTION: Alberto Perez Rendon explains why indigenous people from Latino America are afraid to receive health services in the United States.

Steve Taylor-Ramírez in benefit for American Diabetes Association
 SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 23, 2010) -- Berkeley troubadour Steve Taylor-Ramírez brings his critically acclaimed Latin-infused folk to 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, for the Sugar Rush Fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association, April 15, starting at 9 pm.
“The Sugar Rush Fundraiser Concert will be a full evening of entertainment, with all proceeds donated to the American Diabetes Association,” said concert organizer Ziva Hadar, a recent arrival from Israel and now an SF-based songwriter/pianist, who suffers from diabetes.  “We're very excited about this evening of music, comedy, dance and more.”
Hadar's music can be heard at: http://www.zivamusic.com.
“I'm proud to do what I can to help combat the growing diabetes epidemic,” said Taylor-Ramírez.  “According to the Association, of the approximately 24 million Americans living with the disease, nearly 6 million Americans have type 2 diabetes but don’t even know it.  Another 57 million, or one in five Americans, have pre-diabetes, placing them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If current trends continue, one in three children born today faces a future with diabetes.”
Taylor’s music can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/thestevetaylor.
 The details:
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sugar Rush Fundraiser Concert @ 111 Minna Gallery
111 Minna St. @ 2nd, San Francisco, CA
9:00 PM
21+
Tickets: $10-$20 donation
http://www.111minnagallery.com/