Pastor Outreach SeminarOn January 13, 2009, Director of the Miami Institute for Human Genomics and Associate Dean for Genomic Programs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Ph.D. addressed over 50 pastors and members of the African American community at an event hosted by the 93rd Street Community Baptist Church in Liberty City, where the Reverend Dr. Carl Johnson is pastor. Since its establishment, Miami Institute for Human Genomics research staff and faculty members have been creating partnerships in the South Florida African American community. In order to raise awareness of genetic research studies and to the stress importance of African American participation in research, Dr. Pericak-Vance spoke to the group of local pastors about Alzheimer disease in African Americans and the impact of genetic research on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Marc Royster, Director of Human Resources at the Miami Institute for Human Genomics, proposed the idea to Reverend Johnson who organized the exceptionally successful event.
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