Federal health advisory committee visits region The Center for Rural Health will host members of the committee that advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on rural issues. The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services has selected North Dakota for a site visit and will be visiting Grand Forks, Devils Lake and Cando Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 28-30. During the meetings, which are open to the public, the committee will gather information on rural issues around substance abuse, Medicare Advantage and Headstart programs to include in their annual report to the Secretary. “This is a unique opportunity for our providers in the health and human service fields,” said Center for Rural Health Director Dr. Mary Wakefield, who served on the committee from 1999-2003. “This is a chance to share the opportunities and challenges of providing services to rural North Dakota. Through the committee’s visit, our concerns can be brought directly back to federal administration.” The Center for Rural Health has invited several individuals to present to the committee during the visit including representatives of area providers: Early Explorers Head Start Program, Devils Lake; Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake; Center for Solutions, Cando; and Northeast Human Service Center, Grand Forks. Mike Jacobs, editor and publisher, Grand Forks Herald,willpresent on the history of North Dakota, and Dr. Monica Mayer, Trinity Clinic, New Town will present on Native American Health Care For a complete schedule of the committee’s visit to North Dakota visit the Center for Rural Health Web site at: http://www.med.und.nodak.edu/depts/rural/events/ The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services is a 21-member citizens’ panel of nationally recognized rural health experts that provides recommendations on rural issues to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. It was chartered in 1987 to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on ways to address health care problems in rural America. For more information on the committee visit: http://ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/index.htm -- Amanda Scurry, public information specialist, UND SMHS, ascurry@medicine.nodak.edu, 701-777-0871