October 14, 1999 For Immediate Release

Health care is one of the biggest issues in northern BC and in rural areas across Canada. Health Canada and the University of Northern British Columbia are presenting a national summit on research in rural health that will be held in Prince George October 23-25.

The Summit themes are population health; populations at risk; access to health care services; and how information technology can facilitate effective delivery of health services.

On Friday, October 22nd, the two Summit Co-Chairs will be available for media interviews:

John Wootton is Executive Director of the Office of Rural Health for Health Canada. He has worked as a medical doctor in rural communities across Canada and is currently a practitioner in rural Quebec.

Max Blouw is Associate Vice-President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia. He is currently developing a BC Rural and Remote Health Research Institute that will provide greater information on important rural and remote health issues.

To arrange an interview with Dr Wootton or Dr Blouw,
contact Rob van Adrichem at (250) 960-5622 or vanadric@unbc.ca

More than 120 people from across Canada will be attending the Research Summit. Interest in the Summit has been so strong that a follow-up provincial conference will be held at UNBC in late-January, giving BC health providers and researchers an opportunity to develop an action plan for rural and remote health research in British Columbia.