FLINT, Mich. – International environmental health expert Dr. Bruce Lanphear is in Flint to present a special lecture on lead. Dr. Lanphear is the primary author of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) most recent guideline on lead poisoning, “Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity.” His talk will share the science of lead’s neurotoxicity and “why a little lead is too much.”
“With so many community partners, the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative is thrilled to welcome Dr. Bruce Lanphear to Flint,” says Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of MSU-Hurley Pediatric Public Health Initiative. “His expertise in the field of lead poisoning and children’s environmental health is unparalleled – he wrote the pediatric guidelines for lead toxicity! We look forward to this special presentation for health providers to help us all recognize that even ‘a little lead is too much.’ “
In an effort to provide ongoing lead education to the many professionals involved in Flint’s recovery, this special presentation is co-sponsored by Genesee Health Systems (GHS) with other community and academic partners including the Flint Registry, Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesee County Medical Society, Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center (a partnership between University of Michigan, UM-Flint and Michigan State University), Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Genesee County Health Department, Flint Kids Fund, Genesee County Health Department and Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center.
Elizabeth Burtch, Manager of Coordinated Family Support Services at Genesee Health System said, “It is important for all of us to learn from top experts about lead’s silent toxicity. As a community, this will help us to continually increase our knowledge so we can continue to support families and build community resilience, especially in behavioral health and trauma-informed care.”
The Flint Registry is a massive effort to promote public health by identifying everyone exposed to the lead-contaminated water in Flint and connecting them to supporting resources. The Flint Registry will also be connecting families to lead elimination resources such as the Lead Safe Home program through the multi-sector and community collaborative work of the Registry’s Flint Lead-Free group. Dr. Nicole Jones, Director of Flint Registry said, “We are excited to learn from Dr. Lanphear as we strive to be a model city that protects the potential of our children by eliminating all sources of lead exposure.”
- WHAT: Special presentation by Dr. Bruce Lanphear titled, “The Lingering Legacy of Lead: Why a Little Lead is too Much”
- WHEN: Wednesday, October 3 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
- WHERE: Ramsdall Room at the Flint Farmers’ Market located at 300 E. 1st Street Flint, MI
This event is for all providers who work with children and families (physicians, social workers, home visitors, nurses, educators, etc).
About Dr. Lanphear
Dr. Bruce Lanphear is a Clinician Scientist at the BC Children’s Research Institute and Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. He completed an NIH-funded fellowship in General & Community Pediatrics and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and was the Sloan Professor of Children’s Environmental Health at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medicine Center. He is currently leading an effort to enhance public understanding of how our health is inextricably linked with the environment and the elevated to prevent disease.
