Dr. Arthur Garson, Jr.

Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality
November 17, 2006
Fairfax, VA

On the web

The University of Virginia serves over one million people every year through more than 400 public service and outreach programs. For more information about outreach at UVa, visit http://www.virginia.edu/outreachvirginia/, an interactive web-based listing of public service programs searchable by region, interest, audience, or type of program.

Some programs you can find in OutreachVirginia database include the following:

Agnes Dillon Randolph Lecture
The lectureship recognizes a nurse historian who has significantly contributed to the history of nursing's contributions to the development of the health care system.

Annual Conference in Healthcare Ethics
The Center for Biomedical Ethics sponsors an annual conference for members of hospital and nursing home ethics committees, health care professionals, and other interested in healthcare ethics.

CardioVillage CME Courses
CardioVillage provides FREE continuing medical education (CME) credit in cardiovascular medicine. Over 170 hours of CME and CEUs are currently available.

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Faculty Senate Speakers Bureau
The Faculty Senate Speakers Bureau helps community and school groups throughout the Commonwealth identify U.Va. faculty speakers for special events and meetings at no charge. The Speakers Bureau also serves U.Va. alumni clubs throughout the country.

Health Information for Local Community Groups and Agencies
The Health Sciences Library develops partnerships with local organizations and agencies to assist these groups in developing links to up-to-date health care information and resources.

La Clinica
OB/GYN clinic for Spanish-speaking women.

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About the speaker

Dr. Arthur Garson, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine and a Vice President
of the University of Virginia

In 2001, he became a member of the White House panel on Health Policy; and was appointed Chair of the American College of Cardiology’s task force on the uninsured, leading a broad coalition of physician and patient groups, working on incremental legislation for the uninsured. He also is a member of the ACC’s working group on systems to improve quality care.

In 2002, he was asked to join the Institute of Medicine Task Force on rapid improvements in the healthcare system. He was also appointed a member of the Commonwealth Fund Task Force on health insurance and the uninsured.

In September 2003, he was appointed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Thompson to chair the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In addition, in 2003, he began working with Virginia Medicaid and Anthem on a public-private partnership in pay-for-performance related to practice guidelines.In 2004, he was appointed to chair the Healthcare Programs subcommittee of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Insurance and the Uninsured, and initiated a study of physician workforce in Virginia.

In 2005, Dr. Garson was appointed to an Institute of Medicine Committee on Disabilities.
In 2006, the US Senate bill that he helped to originate and draft, the Health Partnership Act “to provide innovation in healthcare through state initiatives," was introduced (S2772.) Recently, Dean Garson he was appointed to the Commission on Health Reform by Governor Timothy Kaine.

Dr. Garson's recent publications include a paper on differences in patient and physician definitions of "health care quality" in 11 countries (Garson, Yong, Yock, and McClellan, Am J Cardiol, 2006) and is completing a book for the public entitled "Wrong diagnosis: Myths and realities of American Healthcare."

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