A national expert on the influence of race and socioeconomic factors on health will be the keynote speaker at the state’s first minority health conference next month in Lawrence.

Dr. David J. Williams, a senior research scientist at the Institute for Social Research and a professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, will discuss health care issues among diverse populations in Kansas.

He is the author of more than 125 scholarly papers in scientific journals, and his research has appeared in leading journals in sociology, psychology, medicine, public health and epidemiology.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will also speak at the event, titled “Minority Health Conference 2005: Connecting Kansas Communities.” It will run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

“This conference is designed to bring together health professionals and community champions from across Kansas to share best practices and learn about new strategies and resources to improve the health of diverse populations in the state,” said Rod Bremby, Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary.

The conference will offer nine workshops on subjects ranging from health concerns among immigrants to ways of improving minority health.

KDHE’s partnering sponsors are Glaxo Smith Kline, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, AARP, Sunflower Foundation, Region 7 U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services/Office of Minority Health, the department of African and African-American Studies at Kansas University, and the Brown Foundation.

Registration is $25 and limited to 250 participants.

Conference information is available at www.minorityhealthks.org by sending e-mail to minorityhealth@kdhe.state.ks.us.