Former U. S. Surgeon General David Satcher today applauded the University's commitment at a national conference on sexual health. "The University of Minnesota's endowed chair in sexual health offers an important contribution in the field of public health. By providing science-based research, I believe we can work toward promoting sexual health and responsible sexual behavior." The conference, The Call to Action on Sexual Health: Science and Belief - Seeking Common Ground, is being held today at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. In 2001, Satcher released The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior.
Also participating in today's conference is Eli Coleman, Ph.D., director of the University's Program in Human Sexuality in the Medical School's department of family practice and community health. Coleman describes the program, home to the new chair, as one of the oldest, largest, and well-recognized human sexuality centers in the country. "The Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota has been on the cutting edge of research, education, and patient care for 35 years. While Minnesotans have a tradition of modesty, we also have a tradition of strong public health informed by science and guided by principles of equity and social justice."
One of the chair's donors, Michael Ross, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.H.P.Ed., professor of public health at the University of Texas, believes the endowed chair will inspire other universities to follow suit. "The field of sexuality has become a mainstream one in
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Contact: Brenda Hudson
612-624-5680
University of Minnesota
24-May-2004