FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 26, 2007

"Resuscitating American Health Care Delivery: What are the Options?”

a panel discussion at Webster University

"Resuscitating American Health Care Delivery: What are the Options?” is the topic of a panel discussion designed to offer viewpoints from various perspectives and propose possible solutions to the health care crises in the U.S. The forum will be on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in Webster University’s Sunnen Lounge, located in the University Center, 175 Edgar Road. For more information call 968-0124.

James Morone, Ph.D., professor of political science and urban issues at Brown University is the keynote speaker. Other panelists include Dr. James Kimmey, president and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health; Sarah Breier-Mackie, a medical ethicist from University of Missouri-Columbia; Dr. Heidi B. Miller, a primary care physician at the Family Care Health Centers; Bob Holden, former Missouri governor and James Brasfield, director of the health care management program at Webster University. Don Corrigan, editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times and professor at Webster University, will serve as moderator. The event is free and open to the public.

Jim Morone received his Ph. D. at the University of Chicago and has taught at University of Chicago, Yale, Brown and the University of Bremen. His books focus on politics, history and social policy. Morone is also active in policy work and has testified before Congress numerous times – most recently (April, 2006) addressing the 45 U.S. Senate Democrats on a health policy vision for the future.

Sarah Breier-Mackie, Ph.D, MN, BN, RN is an adjunct assistant professor of nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Breier-Mackie is known for work in the field of clinical ethics, end-of-life care and artificial nutritional support. She has practiced in various clinical and academic settings, both in the U. S. and Australia, including critical care, oncology and remote area indigenous community health. In addition to teaching, she also participates as a Clinical Ethicist with the University Hospital Ethics Consult Service and serves on the Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee.

Dr. James Kimmey is president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Foundation for Health, Missouri's largest health. He provides leadership to the Foundation's efforts to improve the health of the residents of its region, with particular attention to the health needs of the underserved. Prior to joining the Foundation, Kimmey was a key member of the Saint Louis University administration, first as director of its Center for Health Services Education and Research and founding dean of the School of Public Health, and as Vice President for Health Sciences. Kimmey is Professor Emeritus of Health Administration and Policy at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1961 and his master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967.

Dr. Heidi B. Miller attended Yale College and Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital.  She has dedicated her career to delivering medical care to indigent patients and advocating for the under-insured.  Currently, she serves as a primary care physician at the Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis - a community health center that provides comprehensive health services to a diverse array of patients regardless of their insurance or income status.