New York, N.Y. - July 18, 2005 - On Thursday July 28th at the National Urban League Annual Conference prominent health professionals will meet to discuss the issues surrounding African-American men's health. Though the identity of the culprit has continually been debated (whether race or socio-economic, environmental stress or genetic predisposition lead to the deterioration of health), it is a fact that black males are dying at greater rates than their white or Hispanic counterparts. The focus of this roundtable discussion will not only be trying to identify the reasons why African-American men have greater-than-usual susceptibility to maladies ranging from heart disease and cancer to AIDS and obesity, all which are preventable, but will also target some steps of action individuals should take to improve their health.

The event's panelists include Dr. Jay Carrington Chunn, Director/Principal Investigator, National Center for Behavioral Change, Morgan State University; Dr. William Cleveland, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Morehouse School of Medicine; Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Dr. Robert L. Johnson, Professor & Chair of Pediatrics & Professor of Psychiatry, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey; Dr. William Lawson, Professor & Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Howard University College of Medicine; Anthony Brian Mack I, Owner & Operator, Denny's Restaurant Franchise; and Dr. Steven J. McKenna, Private Practice Bariatric Surgeon, Hurtt and McKenna. Dr. Ian Smith, Medical contributor to ABC's "The View" and Medical Columnist for Men's Health Magazine will moderate the discussion.

National Urban League is hosting its 95th Annual Conference this year in Washington, D.C. Scheduled events include plenary sessions featuring invited guests The Honorable Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator (NY) and the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Founder & President Rainbow Coalition/PUSH. Other plenary sessions speakers include John Jacob and Hugh Price, former Presidents of the National Urban League, Dick Gregory, author and activist, Kevin Powell, Hip-Hop Historian and author; Hazel R. O'Leary, President, Fisk University; Dr. H. Patrick Swygert, President, Howard University and Dr. Norman E. Francis, President, Xavier University of New Orleans. Other conference highlights include an exciting, interactive exhibit hall with five specialty zones, three high-powered luncheons, two concerts featuring India Arie, Brian McKnight, Doug E. Fresh and Chuck Brown, daily networking sessions, a variety of registration options and a new young professional's Influencer Summit.

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