(Editors: See note below regarding press conference)

“Healthy Communities in the California Heartland: A Call to Action” is the theme of the third annual Central California Health Conference, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

The conference, sponsored by the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Fresno, will explore health policy and health disparities in Central California, as well as cultural diversity issues in health care.

The challenges and opportunities faced by regional health-care organizations, practitioners, educators, policy makers, health and human services professionals, and students will be addressed by a variety of speakers and concurrent breakout sessions. The conference is expected to draw 600 health professionals, policy makers and students from throughout the region.

The opening session will feature Joel Diringer, whose 1996 book “Hurting in the Heartland” described for the first time the dire conditions of health in the San Joaquin Valley, the richest agricultural valley in the world.

His new report, “Health in the Heartland: The Crisis Continues,” reviews the current status of health in the Valley and reports on the changes that have taken place over the past eight years. Funding for the project was provided by The California Endowment.

Dr. Philip R. Lee, consulting professor for the Program in Human Biology at

Stanford University and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will offer the noon keynote speech on “Health, Health Disparities, and Health Communities: From Problems to Solutions.”

Fees for the one-day conference are $90 for professionals and $45 for students. The fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Continuing education units are available for MFTs, LCSWs, nurses and health education specialists for an additional fee of $15.

More information about the conference is available by calling (559) 278-3603 or on the Web at www.csufresno.edu/ExtendedEd/cchc.html.

Editors: A press conference will be held at 10 a.m. (following the morning keynote speech). Speakers will include Joel Diringer and local health-care experts. Highlights from Diringer’s new report, which compares Valley health conditions today with his findings eight years ago and to statewide results, are available in advance or at the press conference. Contact Shirley Armbruster at (559) 278-5292.

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Relations also provides releases for news media companies via e-mail. To be added to the distribution list, send your e-mail address to tomu@csufresno.edu.