Desert Regional Medical Center and Get Tested Coachella Valley, the regional public health campaign, will co-host an innovative Faith Leaders Forum on Thursday, August 4th.
 
Entitled Supporting the Health of Your Congregants, the forum will provide local clergy with useful information to help congregants and their families cope with challenging and chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, HIV, and hypertension. 
 
Desert Regional Medical Center speakers will include:
 
Carolyn Caldwell, President/Chief Executive Officer
Fnu Alfandy, MSN, ANP-BC, SCRN, RN, Neuro/Stroke Program Clinical Coordinator
Rosalyn Marcus, DPM, RN, CDE, Coordinator/ Certified Diabetes Educator
 
Bruce Weiss, MSW, Desert AIDS Project’s Director of Community Health — the department that powers the Get Tested Coachella Valley public health campaign – will address strategies for healthy living with HIV.  
 
“Faith leaders are in a unique position to educate, influence and support the good health of their congregants,” said Weiss.  Added Caldwell, “Many people turn to their congregations and faith leaders to help them cope with life’s challenges, including chronic illness.”  “We’re very proud to partner with Desert Regional Medical Center, the Lead Sponsor of our campaign, to convene this innovative event,” Weiss concluded.
 
Over a buffet breakfast, the forum will provide an opportunity for faith leaders from throughout the Coachella Valley to get helpful guidance for a healthier congregation and to share their own valuable insights. A special video will be debuted at the event, featuring numerous faith leaders whose congregations are part of the 100-member Get Tested Coachella Valley coalition of Community Partners.