CONFERENCE PHOTOS Dr. Michael Gewitz, Physician-In-Chief, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center; Joycelyn Elders, MD, Former US Surgeon General; Edmund LaGamma, M.D. Robert W. Amler, MD, FAAP, FACPM with M. Joycelyn Elders, MD, Former US Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, MD; Smyra Brandon, Director, Westchester County Office of African American Affairs; Marlene Furtick, Executive Director, Westchester County Youth Bureau Heather Brumberg, MD, MPH, FAAP Medical Director, LHVPN; Joycelyn Elders, MD; Cheryl Hunter-Grant, MSW, Executive Director, LHVPN; Robert W. Amler, MD, FAAP, FACPM Sergio Golombek, MD, Neonatologist, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at WMC, M. Joycelyn Elders, MD

"To achieve the goal of 100% access to health care and 0% disparities, we have to do things differently." These were the pearls of wisdom that Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders, former US Surgeon General, shared with the audience of more than 300 at the 4th Annual Regional Perinatal Forum Conference.

Currently less than 3% of the U.S. health care dollars are spent on keeping people well, and 97% is spent on sick care. Health is more than just the absence of disease. Of the preventable deaths: 50% are social or behavioral; 20% are environmental; 20% are genetic and 10% are related to access to care.

The United States is a Health Illiterate society - we must educate our society about health and wellness. Multiple strategies are needed to improve health care in America.

• Early Education - only 18% of children on Medicaid receive early education;
• Comprehensive health education in schools K - 12;
• Provide education to parents;
• Teach young men to be responsible;
• Offer primary prevention health care.

11% of all babies born in the United States are exposed to some kind of substance (diagnosed through testing blood levels). The focus must be on prevention:

P - Policy

R - Research

E - Educate, Educate, Educate

V - be the Voice of powerless children in need of a powerful friend

E - Empower women to get prenatal care

N - Nutrition assessment and Needs assessment

T - use the Tools of commitment, your Time, Talent and Treasure

I - be Informed - what we put in children is an Investment

O - take every Opportunity you get - be Open

N - do it Now!

The most powerful 10 words in the English language, "If it is to be it is up to me!" We must learn to collaborate and form partnerships to improve health care in America. We must be concerned that all children have access to quality health care. We must be advocates for children, dedicated to change and develop and design systems of care that are right for everyone. A society grows great when old men and women plant trees whose shadow they'll never sit under.