April 21, 2006

Girls Inc. Board Chairman Awarded Advocacy Fellowship

Morgan Smith
msmith@girlsincdenver.org
(303) 893-4363

New York, NY - The Institute on Medicine as a Profession (IMAP) announced on April 3, 2006, that it has awarded fellowships to four physicians who will spend the next two years advocating to improve the health and social conditions for people living in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and Massachusetts. The 2006 Physician Advocacy Fellows will partner with a local or national advocacy organization to get more children enrolled in health care coverage, reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities, improve working conditions for migrant workers, and ensure public health safeguards.

Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver's Board Chairman was awarded one of the four fellowships. Steven G. Federico, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Science Center/Denver Health Medical Center, will work with Colorado Children's Campaign to get more eligible children in Denver enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program through the National Free and Reduced School Lunch Program.

"Girls Inc. is proud to have Dr. Federico leading our Board this year. He is a powerful advocate for the community we serve and has a vision to address health and social problems stemming from disparities in healthcare, " stated Girls Inc. President & CEO Colleen Colarelli. "This fellowship will allow him to continue his leadership of our organization, while also focusing on his Advocacy Fellowship project and treating patients part-time."

This brings to 40 the number of physicians who have been awarded fellowships by IMAP, formerly operated by the Open Society Institute, since the program began in 1999. The Fellowship program is one of several under the auspices of IMAP at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York. IMAP is attempting to advance medical professionalism and civic engagement among physicians. The fellowship program has enabled physicians to develop or hone their advocacy skills to improve the health and well-being of people living in poverty, infants and children at risk, frail elderly, immigrants, prisoners, and other vulnerable groups.

The other 2006 Physician Advocacy Fellows are: Michele M. David, MD, MBA, MPH, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and co-director of the Haitian Health Institute at Boston Medical Center, in Massachusetts; Michael Rowland, MD, MPH, an independent occupational medicine physician in Wilton, Maine; and Aaron Wernham, MD, MS, a family physician at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Complete biographies and a list of former fellows along with summaries of their projects is available at http://www.imapny.org/advocacy/.

Established in 1983, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver is an affiliate of Girls Incorporated, a national non-profit youth organization working to advance the rights of girls and women and to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold TM. To date, our programs have touched the lives of more than 25,000 girls, particularly those from at-risk, underserved neighborhoods. We have prevention programs in teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and sexual abuse that give girls tools to avoid these risks and overcome peer pressure. We have educational enrichment programs that inspire girls to harness their innate curiosity and creativity and succeed in academics. We have leadership programs that prepare girls to be active participants in their communities. All of these programs create a safe place for girls and help them to confront gender stereotypes and cultural barriers, and prepare them to lead economically independent and successful lives. For more information, go to www.girlsincdenver.org.