New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services will release the state’s first strategic plan for eliminating health disparities on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at a 1 p.m. press briefing at Health and Agriculture Building, Trenton.

Reporters who wish to call in by teleconference may do so at 877-232-4392. The Participant Code is 435788.

Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., will discuss details of the Department’s plan, including prime areas of emphasis, how DHSS will build on existing successful programs, timetables for action and evaluation measures.

Joining Commissioner Jacobs at the conference will be Linda Holmes, Executive Director of the DHSS Office of Multicultural and Minority Health, Valerie Sellers, New Jersey Hospital Association, and Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez, Chief of the Division of Internal Medicine at the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network and formerly of the UMDNJ center for Multicultural Health Communication.

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