TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A leading pediatrician and expert in providing services to underserved populations will offer insights into the relationship between clinical care and culture Tuesday, Jan. 29 in classrooms 1, 2 and 3 at The University of Alabama School of Medicine building. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Denice Cora-Bramble, who also holds a Master of Business Administration, is executive director of the Diana L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. -- the largest provider of pediatric care in the District of Columbia. She will offer two lectures:

• “Clinical Applications of Culturally Competent Care,” from 8 to 9:30 a.m., is geared toward health care professionals. Continuing Medical Education credits will be available.
• “Culture, Quality of Care and Health Outcomes,” from 10 to 11:30 a.m., is designed for community members.

Cora-Bramble, a native of Puerto Rico, leads the clinical, research, education and advocacy activities of the Goldberg Center. She is the first minority member and currently the only woman to lead a clinical center of excellence at Children’s National Medical Center. As a bilingual, board-certified pediatrician, Cora-Bramble has developed and implemented national and local programs that increase access to health care services for underserved populations. Her areas of expertise and interests are cultural competency, health disparities, community-based education and leadership development. She also is a professor of pediatrics at The George Washington University School of Medicine.

For details on attending the lectures, phone 205/348-0093.

The lectures are sponsored by The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa campus and the Rural Health Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, which are part of the College of Community Health Sciences. CCHS operates a comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical clinic, University Medical Center, where College faculty members conduct their medical practices and where students and residents receive clinical experience and training. The College’s research component supports faculty and student research efforts, including clinical trials.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.