Carolina_Communicator_03-2012 (PDF)

The Mid-Atlantic Affiliate is one of seven American Heart Association affiliates that make up the national organization, which was founded in 1924.

“It is vital that we focus on heart disease and stroke prevention among all age groups and all ethnicities within our community and throughout the Mid-Atlantic,” said Flack. “I am proud to help guide the American Heart Association’s Mid-Atlantic Affiliate in these endeavors.”

“We are a volunteer-led organization, and are fortunate to have such strong board members driving our mission across the affiliate,” said Jeremy Beauchamp, Executive Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate.

Flack is the founding Dean WSSU’s School of Health Sciences and Professor of Nursing.  Her research is in the areas of the medically underserved, health disparities, HIV/AIDS, elderly minorities and breast cancer.  Flack utilized the immersion method to successfully teach students about health disparities and how to improve minority health.  Flack holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from WSSU, a Master of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and Doctorate in Educational Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

She serves on a number of community, state and national boards and commissions in healthcare, public education, higher education and civic organizations. Past and current community boards include the Downtown Health Plaza, the Piedmont Triad Sickle and Health Services Advisory Board, Forsyth County Health Department Infant Mortality Coalition, Leadership Winston-Salem Board, HealthCare Access, Quality Improvement Committee of Center Point Human Services, Crisis Control Ministry Board and Center Point Human Services Board of Directors and First Community Bank Triad Advisory Board.

Flack has been extremely active with the American Heart Association.  Under her leadership the CEEHD sponsors a university-wide Power to End Stroke program designed for WSSU students, with over 300 students trained in stroke prevention. Another program sponsored by the CEEHD and funded by the Office of Women’s Heath is the Talk, Prevent, LIVE, focused on developing communications strategies for patients/providers related to cardiovascular disease.  Flack has also been active in advocating for the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act) to the North Carolina congressmen.

For more information on the American Heart Association, visit www.heart.org.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases – two of America’s leading killers. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.heart.org.

CONTACT:

Sarah Fedele
Cell: 336.662.3304
Sarah.Fedele@heart.org

Organized by WSSU’s Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEEHD), the institute is designed to help prepare young professional minority educators move into leadership positions within nursing education programs.

“We know we need more minority health care providers as part of our efforts to eliminate health disparities throughout the community, this state and this nation,” said Dr. Sylvia Flack, executive director of the CEEHD.  “We also need, however, more minority nurses in leadership roles.”

As assistant surgeon general, Cobb is the regional health administrator for eight southeastern states, including North Carolina. Other keynote speakers for the institute include Dr. Debra A. Toney, president of the National Black Nurses Association and president of a home health care agency in Las Vegas, and Dr. Virginia Adams, past dean of nursing at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and consultant on diversity and global issues for the National League for Nursing.

“The institute provides those aspiring to leadership positions in nursing education and individuals who are new in leadership positions with the opportunity to hear from some excellent speakers,” said Flack.  “More importantly, however, it provides the opportunity to be mentored by these outstanding women.”

In addition to the presentations, protégées attending the institute will be matched with mentors who represent the top researchers, administrators, educators, policy makers and clinicians in nursing.

“By providing mentors to the young professionals, we hope to accelerate leadership development and provide ongoing career support,” Flack added.  “The program should certainly impact efforts to prepare more young professionals to assume leadership roles in nursing education as well as in the clinical field, both of which are extremely important to the future of health
care.”

EDITORS:
Rear Admiral Clara H. Cobb will speak at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, McNeil Ballroom, Anderson Center
Dr. Debra A. Toney will speak at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 17, Diggs Gallery
Dr. Virginia Adams will speak at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, June 18, McNeill Ballroom

A student-led campaign, PTES is designed to increase stroke awareness on the campus of Winston-Salem State University.  It is supported by the Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEEHD) in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

“Strokes used to be a condition of older individuals, but now is a condition that can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of age, race or gender,” said Dr. Sylvia Flack, executive director of the CEEHD.  “While everyone can be at risk, strokes do occur in African Americans at twice the rate of the white population.”

WSSU Power to End Stroke Ambassadors, who were trained by Rose Robins-Troupe of the American Heart Association, shared information on the signs and symptoms of a stroke with students during the “Come Meet Strokes: The OTHER Silent Killer” event.  As an indicator of understanding and awareness, students were asked to complete a pledge card that read To not just survive but thrive.  I will learn how to live stronger and longer for me, my family and my community.  I will join the movement to prevent and overcome strokes.  Those signing the pledge received a Power to End Strokes lapel pin as a reminder.

Students also had the opportunity to participate in blood pressure screenings conducted by members of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.  Some were amazed that they actually had elevated blood pressures.

The event concluded with several students and staff sharing with the WSSU community how strokes have affected them and their families, which supported the need for the PTES campaign on campus.

The PTES initiative is being led by Amber J. Johnson, research associate, and will continue through the fall of 2010 with a variety of activities including monthly dissemination of information throughout the campus community, stroke awareness events and pledge drives.

[Note:  Dr. Sylvia Flack may be contacted at 779-7360 or flack@wssu.edu]

Contact:
Nancy Young                                                                                    
Chief Public Relations Officer
336-750-8764 (office)
336-413-1472 (mobile)
youngnn@wssu.edu

Flack is one of 54 investigators from major research institutions, federal funding agencies, colleges and universities from across the nation who will take part in “Integrating Principles of Science Practice and Policy in Health Disparities Research” course, June 20 through July 1 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  She was selected to participate based on her work in addressing health disparities.

NIMHD is the NIH institute that promotes minority health, conducts and supports research, training, research infrastructure, fosters emerging programs, disseminates information, and reaches out to minority and other health disparity communities. The CEEHD was established in 2006 and received a NIMHD Center of Excellence grant in 2008.

“The CEEHD has advanced the university’s disparities research agenda and infrastructure in diabetes, HIV/AIDS, obesity, breast cancer, hypertension, patient centeredness and e-health,” said Flack.  “We are also involved in developing diverse and minority investigators in clinical, biomedical and behavioral research.  We also offer a national initiative designed to enhance student success in 43 HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and predominantly black institutions’ nursing programs.”

About the CEEHD
The Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEEHD) is one of Winston-Salem State University’s major public service centers.  An interdisciplinary, intra-institutional clinical and disparities research center, its mission is to improve minority health outcomes and eliminate health disparities within community, state and nation through research, research training and community outreach activities.

About the National Institutes of Health
NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.