The next UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) seminar on April 23 features a nationally known expert in the area of Latino health issues. Dr. America Bracho is the executive director of Latino Health Access, a center for health promotion and disease prevention located in Santa Ana, Calif.

Bracho’s talk, “Recruit the Heart and Train the Brain,” is aimed at facilitating empowerment in Latino communities to promote health and work toward disease prevention. Bracho believes community experts play a vital role in transforming health care through hope, change, and inclusion. Through confidence building and training, community workers can help identify needs, strengths, and assets of a community.

Bracho worked as a physician in her native Venezuela for several years, after which she came to the U.S. and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Michigan. Bracho is a recognized expert and award recipient in the area of Latino health issues, health education, minority women, cultural competency, community organizing, diabetes education and HIV.

The talk will take place Wednesday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the UConn School of Social Work, Zachs Community Room, 1798 Asylum Ave. in West Hartford.

To register for this event: http://healthdisparities.uchc.edu/news/seminar_series/index.html

Information on additional seminars featuring nationally recognized experts in the elimination of health disparities and the promotion of health equity can be found by visiting HDI.

The HDI is a programmatic component of Bioscience Connecticut and sponsored by the University of Connecticut. It is bolstered by a network of community partnerships, and focused on enhancing research and the delivery of care to minority and underserved populations.

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