HU Hosts 29th Annual Black Family Conference

Hampton, VA - Hampton University will host the 29th Annual Conference on the Black Family on March 14 - 16. The conference theme this year is "The Journey of Living: Maintaining the Fountain of Youth." The HU School of Pharmacy will host the conference this year focusing on aging.

“With the first Baby Boomers reaching the age of 60 in 2006, we are facing a potentially colossal crisis if we are not prepared,” said Dr. Hugh M. McLean, dean of the School of Pharmacy.

The conference will begin on Wednesday, March 14 with an opening ceremony in Ogden Hall at 7 p.m. March 15-16 will consist of concurrent seminars covering four tracks: health, socio-economics, lifestyle, and political issues; all related to aging. All seminars will be held in the Student Center.

Conference speakers include: Dr. Richard J. Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging; Dr. Leslie White, an immunization pharmacist will discuss child and adult immunizations including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for which Gov. Kaine recently announced he will sign a bill; Rae Lewis-Thornton who will discuss living with AIDS; Kelvin Boston, financial journalist featured on PBS and BET, who will discuss financial planning and Social Security; and Dr. Kenneth B. Wesson who will discuss neurological issues.

Congressman Bobby Scott, Senator L. Louise Lucas, and Delegate Mamye BaCote will serve as panelists for the legislative issues seminar. Senator Mamie Locke will moderate the seminar.

The Hebni Nutrition Consultants will share recipes from their popular book featured on “Oprah” entitled “The New Soul Food Cookbook for People with Diabetes.”

Nat Jones, an independent pharmacist will discuss andropause (male menopause) and “bio-identical hormone replacement therapy” for women.  Jones studies replacing hormones such as estrogen and testosterone at the exact amount the body produces naturally.

The conference will also include a health fair that will provide education on medications and diseases.  The health fair will also include blood pressure and blood glucose level checks and screening for other diseases.

Registration fee for the conference and closing luncheon is $100 for the general public, $75 for senior citizens, $10 for college students,  and $5 for children 18 and under.  Onsite registration on March 14-15 is $125.  Cost to attend only the closing luncheon is $25 per person.

For more information and registration forms for the 29th Annual Conference on the Black Family contact:  Wanda Pierre at 757-637-2957 or wanda.pierre@hamptonu.edu