(Posted October 13, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata students interested in health care as a political issue will get a chance to hear from policymakers and medical professionals in the forum "The Politics of Health Care," at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15 in Alumni Hall in Brumbaugh Academic Center on the Juniata campus.

The forum is open to the public.

"We know that healthcare is a critical issue for everyone in this year's presidential election and it is very important for voters to make informed decisions on Nov. 4."

Travis Hull, senior, Summerhill, Pa.

A panel of medical professionals will discuss their perspectives on the current healthcare system, as well as the healthcare policies for both political parties.

The medical professionals panel will be moderated by two HOSA students, Josh Beaver, a senior from Mifflinburg, Pa. and Erin Stein, a junior from Binghamton, N.Y.

The panelists are: James Lakso, provost for Juniata College and former chair of the board of directors for J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital; Dr. Amy Swindell, a family practice physician in Huntingdon; Dr. Molly Ettenger, an internal medicine specialist in Huntingdon; Dr. Bruce Thomas, an internal medicine physician in Huntingdon; and Dr. Christopher Patitsas, an ophthalmologist in Huntingdon and vice chief of staff at J.C. Blair.

Patricia McTaggart, a lecturer on health policy at George Washington University, will represent the views of the Obama healthcare platform. Randy Carper, a representative from the John McCain campaign headquarters in Huntingdon County, will represent the views of the McCain platform.

Student representatives for the presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will summarize the healthcare platforms for both candidates. Jeff Ewart, a senior from Martinsburg, Pa., and Lindsey Lanzendorfer, a senior from Hollidaysburg, Pa., will outline the healthcare policies for John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate. Sebastian Brown, a senior whose parents are missionaries in Jerusalem, Israel, will outline the healthcare views of Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

In preparation for the healthcare forum, the documentary film "Sick Around the World" will be shown at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14 in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science. The movie is free and open to the public.

"We hope seeing the movie the night before helps generate questions for the forum," says Hull.

The forum is sponsored by Health Occupations Students of America, a Juniata student club for students interested in serving their communities through various health professions.

"We have a very active chapter at Juniata and are keenly aware of the crisis in healthcare in America," says Travis Hull, a senior from Summerhill, Pa., and president of HOSA. "We also know that healthcare is a critical issue for everyone in this year's presidential election and it is very important for voters to make informed decisions on Nov. 4."



Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.