Workshop on Globalization and Health Set for April 27

A UNC Asheville Humanities Program course, the United Nations Association of Western North Carolina and the Carolina Chiapas Connection will host a workshop on "Globalization and Health" from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. Registration $5 or $15 with lunch. The workshop is open to the public.

The first session will focus on "Health and Health Care in the Higlands of Chiapas." A UNCA Humanities class and Alice Weldon, UNCA assistant professor of Spanish who teaches the class, will join Carolina Chiapas Chair Jenifer Morgan to discuss how the social, economic, environmental and political climate in Chiapas, Mexico affect health conditions and practices. Weldon and Morgan will report on their recent trip to health care facilities in rural Chiapas and relate the information they gathered there with how globalization presents a critical threat to the spread of infectious disease. Students have been instrumental in researching material and will display and present information in this session.

"The Humanities Program at UNC Asheville serves as a core element in enhancing a rich, liberal arts education that helps prepare students to take their place as contributing students in their local and global communities," said Weldon. "This workshop on globalization and health care in developing nations not only allows the true spirit of the humanities to come alive for students, but also presents an opportunity for the greater Asheville community to learn more about serious global issues from experts in the medical field. By connecting it with the rural area of one of Asheville’s sister cities -- San Cristobal De Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico -- the workshop recognizes, supports and extends this important local-global community focus."

The second session, "Issues in the Globalization of Diseases and Health Care," will feature talks by area health experts Sara Lewis Espada, Lisa Lichtig, Geeta McGahey and Baker Perry.

Espada works as the Latin America/Caribbean Area program manager for the PRIME II/INtrah project, whose headquarters are at UNC Chapel Hill. Founded over 20 years ago, this project is known for its work in training primary health care providers. Espada manages nine reproductive health projects in five countries, including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay.

Lichtig practices family medicine in Asheville. She is the recipient of the 1988-89 USA for Africa International Health Fellowship, which provided funds to live and study with the indigenous people of Nigeria, West Africa. Later, Lichtig was a member of the 1994-96 Faculty for Community Health Aid Program in Bethel, Ala.

McGahey worked as a family physician for 25 years, both in Yancey County and Moorhead, Minn. She also served several brief periods in India conducting health camps and health training for village girls. McGahey is active in a number of local organizations, including the Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign to eliminate polio. She also serves as a health and conflict-prevention volunteer.

Perry is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State and a doctoral student at the University of Washington. His award-winning master’s thesis focuses on geographical aspects of health care delivery in Andean Bolivia. Perry has been actively involved in the University of Washington International Health Program.

For more information or to register, call UNCA Assistant Spanish Professor Alice Weldon, at 828/251-6285.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Alice Weldon, UNCA Assistant Professor of Spanish, 828/251-6285
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526