The National Conference on Health Disparities took place Nov. 5-8 in Long Beach, and CSU Monterey Bay was well represented.

President Eduardo Ochoa and Dean Britt Rios-Ellis made presentations alongside several members of Congress and national health experts.

Throughout the conference, presenters emphasized the role of social factors, personal responsibility and prevention in initiatives that reduce disparities.

Dr. Rios-Ellis, founding dean of CSUMB’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services, gave the keynote address on the conference’s opening day. Her topic: Overcoming Challenges to Participation of Underrepresented Populations in Academia. She also moderated a panel later in the week.

President Ochoa is one of five panelists who addressed the impact of health issues on American military personnel.

A contingent of CSUMB students made poster presentations.

• Jade Fackler (at left), a senior kinesiology major, presented her research exploring the ability of a high school mountain biking club to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle in underrepresented populations.

• Kinesiology major Kendra Contente presented her work that focuses on eating disorders in college women. Her research suggests that eating disorders may be used as a coping response to social pressures.

• Gabriela Guzman, who is majoring in Collaborative Health and Human Services, presented her work on how immigration status impacts access to health care.

• Monica Nicholas, a CHHS major, presented research showing the percentage of undocumented immigrants who would benefit from the Affordable Care Act if not for their immigration status.

Learn about kinesiology at CSUMB

Learn about collaborative health and human services*Left to right: Jade Fackler, Gabriela Guzman, Monica Nicholas, Dean Britt Rios-Ellis, Congressman Jim Clyburn, Kendra Contente*