The recently-produced PBS video "Unnatural Causes . . . is Inequality Making Us Sick?" was the centerpiece of a forum sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) at Rachel's Lakeside Restaurant in Dartmouth on June 25, 2008. The all-day session gave over 100 participants the opportunity to view the video and to hear from two panels of local community leaders respond to the issues it presented. Southeastern Regional DPH Director Ron O'Connor, who organized the forum, noted the importance of the session in helping community leaders and the public to understand the complexity of forces that influence health and the wide-scope of interventions in community settings that must be addressed to improve health status, including efforts to improve education, employment, housing and the environment. Click here to read the Standard-Times article about the forum. For more information about these dialogues, contact Mr. O'Connor at 781-774-6608.

(Top row, left ) Betty Sylvia, Director of Patient Access at Southcoast Hospitals, asks the panelist to recommend ways that she can increase the numbers of persons registering for state-funded medical insurance coverage. (Top row, center) Department of Public Health Southeastern Regional Director Ron O'Connor welcomes over 100 participants to the Forum at Rachel's Restaurant in Dartmouth. (Top row, right) Panelist Patricia Andrade, M.D. of the New Bedford Board of Health talks about some of her experiences with inequity in healthcare delivery as Fall River City Councilor Cathy Ann Viveiros listens. (Middle row, left) Department of Public Health Medical Director Lauren Smith, M.D.is interviewed by Jim Phillips of WBSM Radio following her keynote address. (Middle row, center) The audience watches the first video presentation of "Unnatural Causes . . . is Inequity Making Us Sick?" at the beginning of the day-long forum. (Middle row, right) Following her remarks, Councilor Viveiros listens as Dan Gilbarg of the Coalitions for Social Justice and Against Poverty speaks. (Bottom row, left) Public Health Nurse Mary-Ellen Power and New Bedford Public Health Director Marianne DeSouza listen as Southcoast Hospitals Director of Public Relations Kerry Mello speaks during the discussion session. (Bottom row, center) Greater New Bedford C.O.A.S.T. Co-chairman Tim Velho listens as Catholic Social Services Executive Director Arlene McNamee and Immmigrant Assistance Center Director Helena Marques speak. (Bottom row, right) Deirdre Lopes of the HOPE Collaborative speaks as Glenda Izaquirre of the Office of Congressman Barney Frank listens. Rev. David Lima of the Interchurch Council of Greater New Bedford, not pictured, also spoke on the panel.