MEDIA ADVISORY

GRINNELL COLLEGE TO HOST PRE-CAUCUS HEALTHCARE REFORM SYMPOSIUM

GRINNELL IA -- October 4, 2007-- With the national spotlight turned on the Iowa caucuses and candidates' healthcare proposals on voters' minds, Grinnell College will host a three-day symposium on "Healthcare Reform in the U.S.," Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

Presentation topics will include:

" Treatment of brain damaged troops returning from Iraq

" Healthcare cost, rationing, and financing

" Lessons from Europe and Canada

" Medicare and Medicaid cost and reform

" Alternative medicine and stress reduction

" Community health reaction to the movie "Sicko"

The public symposium will feature experts from the American Hospital Association, the Brookings Institution, The Hastings Center, and leading medical schools, as well staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee working on Medicare and Medicaid budget proposals.

A panel of Grinnell College alumni who currently work in healthcare fields across the country will wrap up the symposium on Nov. 1. Twelve percent of Grinnell alumni from classes 1970-2000 obtained higher degrees in medicine and healthcare professions. Grinnell also ranks high nationally in the number of biological scientist graduates (9th nationally) for an institution of its size.

The Grinnell symposium is hosted by the college's Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights (http://www.grinnell.edu/rosenfield/). A complete media release with a full program of symposium events will be distributed Oct. 15. For additional information or to arrange interviews with the symposium speakers, contact Wayne Moyer, director of the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, 641-269-3176, moyer@grinnell.edu.

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