A free report on Cancer and Race!!

Forwarded Message:
From: Nancy Krieger <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 13:23:37 -0500
Subject: Report on "The Meaning of Race in Science"
To: Spirit of 1848 <[log in to unmask]>

        The Report of the Chairman from the President's Cancer Panel on
"The Meaning of Race in Science--Considerations for Cancer Research" has
just become available.  The report contains summaries of the presentations given,
and clearly advocates understanding of race/ethnicity and racism as social
constructs with profound health implications.

        To get a copy of the report (free), send an email with your
request (including your mailing address) to the President's Cancer Panel,
at:

                [log in to unmask]

The report was sent directly to President Clinton by Dr. Harold Freeman,
Chair of the President's Cancer Panel. It is also intended to influence
NIH and NCI research and policies.

        Also, a journal article, highlighting themes of this meeting was
recently published. The citation is:

        Freeman HP. The meaning of race in science--considerations for
        cancer research. Cancer 1998; 82:219-225.

The table of contents of the report (for the presentations) is:

--Racial classifications: their history and use
        Opening remarks: Dr. Vanessa Gamble
        History and sociology: Dr. F. James Davis
        Racial economy of science: Dr. Sandra Harding

--Social definition meets genetic underpinning
        Opening remarks: Dr. Linda Burhansstipanov
        World wide genetic patterns: Dr. Marcus Feldman
        The biological anthropology of race: Dr. Solomon Katz
                [NB: these presentations made clear there is no
                     "scientific" or "genetic" basis to the concept
                     of "race"]

--Scientific use of racial/ethnic classification
        Opening remarks: Dr. Edward Sondik
        Standard federal definitions for statistical purposes:
          Ms. Suzann Evinger
        Racial classifications in public health: Dr. Robert Hahn
        Distinguishing between the effects of race and poverty:
          Dr. Mary Bassett

--Scientific and societal implications in cancer research and applications
        Opening remarks: Dr. Claudia Bacquet
        Racial discrimination and health: an epidemiologist's perspective:
          Dr. Nancy Krieger
        Genetics of race in clinical trials: Dr. Edison Liu
        The other side of health care: a physician being treated for
          cancer: Dr. Richard Boxer

--Closing remarks: Dr. Harold Freeman


As you can see, the content & implications extend far beyond cancer
research and are relevant to public health generally.



                        And so, once again, onwards ....
                                Nancy K


************************************************************************
Nancy Krieger, PhD                              office: 617-432-1571
Dept of Health and Social Behavior              fax:    617-432-3755
Harvard School of Public Health
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115                        email:  [log in to unmask]



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Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Acting Director,
Masters of Health Science Program in Health Promotion
Department of Public Health Sciences
Graduate Department of Community Health
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, Room 101
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
voice:    (416) 978-7567
fax: (416) 978-2087
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