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. Thursday, March 15 will consist of concurrent seminars covering four tracks: health, socio-economics, lifestyle, and political issues; all related to aging. Some of the topics that will be explored include: cancer treatment such as proton beam therapy, andropause (male menopause), menopause and hormone replacement, pharmacogenomics (individualized medicine), Medicare Part D, faith and health, and herbal remedies. All seminars will be held in the Student Center.

A variety of well-known and knowledgeable speakers will present at the conference seminars. Invited speakers include Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, world-renown pediatric neurosurgeon, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, professor of surgery at Columbia University and frequent contributor to the Oprah Winfrey Show. Other invited speakers include: Dr. Lawrence Carter, professor of religion and public health at Morehouse College; Rae Lewis-Thornton, AIDS activist; Kelvin Boston, financial journalist featured on BET and PBS; Hebni Nutrition Consultants, authors of “The New Soul Food Cookbook for People with Diabetes;” Daniel Wilson, director of policy development for The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged; and Edwin Walker, deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs for the Administration on Aging.

On Friday, March 16 seminars will continue in the Student Center and the conference will conclude with a closing luncheon in Holland Hall.

The conference will also include a health fair that will provide education on medications and diseases. School of Pharmacy faculty and students will check blood pressure and blood glucose levels and screen for other diseases. The health fair will also include posters presentations, chain drug store exhibitors, and vendors.

The Black Family Conference at Hampton University has a rich tradition of addressing the needs and the future of black families in America. President William R. Harvey recognized the necessity of establishing consistent dialogue on health care, technology, business, income disparities and women’s issues. As an outgrowth of the Black Family Institute that began in 1978, Harvey further committed the University’s resources to finding solutions to the problems that affect blacks and the minority community by initiating an Annual Conference on the Black Family.

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

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For more information contact Erica Taylor Harrod @ (757) 727-5255 or email erica.harrod@hamptonu.edu