Forum brings together American Indian researchers The fifth annual American Indian Research Forum will take place Thursday, April 19, at the Memorial Union. Sponsored by the Center for Rural Health, this free event will feature nationally known speakers in the area of American Indian health research, oral and poster presentations featuring American Indian populations by students and researchers, and discussions of new ways to develop American Indian research opportunities. Keynote speakers for the day-long event include: * Darryl Tonemah currently works with the National Institutes of Health on diabetes prevention and lifestyle change research among Indian populations, and is the director of Health Promotion Programs at the University of Oklahoma. He also works with Native groups across the United States and Canada promoting health and wellness. He is an enrolled member of the Kiowa, Comanche and Tuscarora Nations. * Carole Anne Heart is the executive director of the Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board where she administers programs to serve the health needs of tribal people residing in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa representing 17 reservations and two urban health clinics, serving approximately, 200,000 Indian people. She is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota) /Yankton Sioux (Ihanktowan Dakota) Nations. For a complete schedule and to register online, visit: http://www.med.und.nodak.edu/depts/rural/airf/ “The forum provides a venue to share current research activities concerning health risk and health promotion among Native American communities,” said Jacque Gray, assistant professor at the Center for Rural Health, and chair of the planning committee. “This will also give us an excellent opportunity to develop possible research collaborations for future projects.” The American Indian Research Forum is sponsored by the Center for Rural Health at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences in coordination with the UND Indian Association Annual Time-Out Week. The following UND organizations and departments have provided additional financial contributions: Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), Center for Rural Health, National Resource Center for Native American Aging, Research Development and Compliance, School of Medicine and Health Sciences Research and Program Development, Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and School of Medicine and Health Sciences Office of the Dean. -- Amanda Scurry, public information specialist, UND Center for Rural Health, ascurry@medicine.nodak.edu, 701-777-0871