FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2008

CONTACT: M. “Peggy” Salisbury 908-771-5730;
Norma T. Sheld 908-771-5815

Symposium: Reducing Cervical Cancer Risk in Young Women

Union County’s school and health department nurses are invited to attend a symposium entitled “Who, What, and Why? Reducing the Risk of Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts in Girls and Women,” which will be held at The Westwood, 438 North Avenue in Garwood on Thursday, November 20th. The program is made possible by Merck & Company in partnership with Union County’s Immunization Program.

“The Board of Chosen Freeholders is very proud of Union County’s Immunization Program, located at 342 Westminster Ave. in Elizabeth, which is a joint venture of Runnells Specialized Hospital of Union County and the county’s Department of Human Services,” said Freeholder Chester Holmes.

The lecture will be presented by Nathan Litman, M.D., Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Chief of Service, Montefiore Medical Center; Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Litman will discuss the objectives of the symposium which are:

• To understand the epidemiology and burden of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18-related diseases
  in women
• To understand the importance of the clinician’s role in prevention
• To discuss the benefits of preventing diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18
  and other related vaccines

Two professional development hours have been granted from the New Jersey Department of Education/Office of Program Support.

The dinner will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by the lecture. Union County school and health department nurses who are interested in attending should register by November 14th by contacting Deana Saba at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital, 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights, by phone at 908-771-5709, via fax at 908-771-9654 or by email at dsaba@ucnj.org.