Tipper Gore, George Stephanopoulos, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Richard Gephardt
To Appear at Mental Health America's Centennial Conference
Landmark Event To Address Changes, Challenges for Mental Health Field;
Health Reform, Veterans, Innovations, Youth and Technology
Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 3, 2009)-Leading mental health advocates and political, medical and policy experts, including Mrs. Tipper Gore, George Stephanopoulos, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Richard Gephardt, will address the changes and challenges ahead for the mental health field at Mental Health America's Centennial Conference, June 10-13, in Washington, D.C.
The Conference, "Celebrating the Legacy: Forging the Future," will bring together an extraordinary group of political analysts, policy experts, medical experts, researchers and advocates to examine key developments and opportunities in the mental health field. Mental Health America this year is celebrating its 100th Anniversary as the founder of the organized mental health movement.
"The mental health care landscape is changing rapidly with health reform becoming a national priority and innovations in research and breakthroughs in prevention transforming the field," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "As we celebrate the profound impact Mental Health America has had over the last century, we will look ahead at the challenges and opportunities we face in the future."
Highlights of the Conference include:
Mrs. Tipper Gore, Honorary Chair of Mental Health America's Centennial Celebration, will speak on the morning of Friday, June 12.
The Keynote Luncheon on Friday features "A Conversation with George Stephanopoulos." The host of "This Week" and chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, Stephanopoulos will discuss opportunities and challenges facing the Obama Administration in a session moderated by Bob Boorstin, an executive with Google and former aide to President Bill Clinton.
Boorstin, an experienced pollster, will also moderate a panel exploring Americans' attitudes on health care and reform that includes Bill McInturff, pollster for the McCain presidential campaign, and Lisa Davis, director of AARP's Divided We Fail Campaign.
The next steps for health care reform will be examined by a roundtable of political and health experts, including White House policy veteran Chris Jennings; Karen Ignani, CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans; Ron Dozoretz, founder and CEO of Value Options; Dr. Michael Hogan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health; and JoAnn Volk, legislative representative for the AFL-CIO.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN will moderate a panel examining advances in treatment and prevention featuring Dr. Ronald Kessler, the world's most cited mental health researcher; former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, a founding member of the Council for American Medical Innovations; and Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Military mental health leaders and veterans will explore the mental health issues of veterans, servicemen and women, and their families. Mark Benjamin, an award-winning reporter with Salon.com, will moderate a panel that includes Brig. General Loree K. Suttton, director of the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury; and Matt Kuntz, executive director of NAMI Montana and recognized by President Obama as one of 18 Ordinary Americans Who Have Made an Extraordinary Difference; and Rick Weidman of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Young mental health leaders and innovators will discuss their own experiences and address how technology and web 2.0 tools are shaping and changing the way we educate and inform.
In addition, as part of the Centennial Conference, Mental Health America will mark its 100th Anniversary with a celebratory Gala on the evening of Thursday, June 11. The special event, which will bring together national leaders and entertainers, will honor Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Pete Domenici for their legendary work on mental health and leadership in passing the Mental Health Parity law.
The Conference, which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, will bring together advocates, mental health professionals, leaders from business and government, mental health consumers, policy makers, and executives and staff from over 300 Mental Health America state and local affiliates to learn about critical issues in the behavioral health field and map strategies for collective action.
For more information on the Centennial Conference, including agenda and speakers, please visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/conference. Registration for the conference, including special half-conference packages, is available on site.
Celebrating 100 years of mental health education and advocacy, Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation-every day and in times of crisis. In 2009, we are marking a century of achievement with a year-long Centennial Observance: "Celebrating the Legacy, Forging the Future."
###
