Under the guidance of The Honorable Dr. Louis Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Florida Alliance Conference was held June 18-19, 2007 in Tallahassee, Florida. The purposes of this meeting were to examine the need for diverse health professionals in Florida and to determine how to move forward to establish partnerships to address the need. At the meeting, an inaugural report, Documenting Disparities in Florida’s Health Care Education Pipeline and Workforce, was presented which included data on practicing professionals and on enrollments in four-year higher education institutions. As a result of the conference, a Working Group was formed which will develop a proposed structure, governing body and funding mechanisms for the Florida Alliance. It is anticipated that the Ad Hoc Working Group will complete its work by August 2008.

The Florida Alliance Conference presentations are provided below:

“Planning for a Florida Alliance” The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services “Documenting Disparities in Florida’s Health Care Education Pipeline and Workforce” Leela Hebbar, M.A. Senior Analyst, and Cynthia Balogh, Ph.D., Principal, MGT of America, Inc. “Addressing Diversity Needs in the State of Florida:  The Nurse Population”  Mary Lou Brunell, RN, MSN, Florida Center for Nursing, University of Central Florida “What is a Mentor?” Henrietta Logan, Ph.D., College of Dentistry, University of Florida “Student Diversity in Public Health and Allied Health Programs in Florida” Ivette A. Lopez, MPH, Ph.D., Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University “Partnership Models from the American Dental Education Association and the UF College of Dentistry” Frank Catalanotto, DMD, College of Dentistry, University of Florida