Rep. Mickey Stephens Trades in Suit Coat for Lab Coat

ATLANTA – State Representative Mickey Stephens (D-Savannah), along with a select group of other state leaders from around the country, is currently participating in a “Legislator in the Lab” meeting, being held today and tomorrow, September 27-28, at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the Medical Arts and Research Center in San Antonio, Texas. This one-and-a-half day program is designed to let leaders in the health field share their expertise with state legislators who have a strong interest in health care policy.

“It is a true honor to receive this invitation to tour one of the nation’s top medical schools and learn about cardiovascular disease from experts in the field,” said Rep. Stephens. “As an African American man, I believe that it is especially important for us to build a better understanding of this deadly category of diseases that seem to particularly affect minorities. Once we understand the disease, its causes, and treatments, then we can begin to save lives in our community.”

This week’s Legislator in the Lab meeting will primarily focus on teaching legislators about cardiovascular disease. During the event, Rep. Stephens will learn firsthand about cardiovascular disease diagnostic tools, demographics and treatment strategies from leading medical professionals. He will also hear about current issues facing the medical profession and the value of medical students.

Sometimes called heart disease, cardiovascular disease includes diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Developing an understanding of this area of health care is especially important given the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in Georgia, as well as the other 49 states. The topic gains further importance because U.S. minority populations are disproportionately affected by the disease. For example, African American men are 30 percent more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than their white counterparts.

Legislator in the Lab is sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). This month’s event at the University of Texas is one of three Legislator in the Lab programs scheduled this year at top medical schools throughout the United States. NCSL hosted a similar meeting at the Emory University School of Medicine in August, 2009. For more information about the program, please visit the NCSL Legislator in the Lab website by clicking here.

Representative Mickey Stephens represents the citizens of District 161, which includes portions of Chatman County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Insurance, Reapportionment, and Ways & Means committees.

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