R.I. Geriatric Education Center to host live video Conference on early detection of breast cancer KINGSTON, R.I. — May 17, 2001 — The Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center, in cooperation with Rhode Island Quality Partners, Inc. and the state Department of Health’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program, will facilitate a live video conference presented by the Virginia Geriatric Education Center in Richmond, Virginia. The conference, “Beyond the Barriers: Effective Breast Cancer Early Detection Strategies for Older Women,” will be held on Tuesday, June 26 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Rhode Island Hospital, George Auditorium. The registration fee is $5 for registrations postmarked no later than June 1. After June 1, the fee will increase to $15. Continuing education credits are available for an additional fee. This video conference will be of particular interest to health care professionals and community service providers. To obtain registration and site information, please call toll-free 1-888-794-0904, or visit the Virginia Geriatric Education Center web site at http://views.vcu.edu/sahp/gerontology/vgec/breastcancer. There will be no phone or on-site registrations. For local information, call The Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center at 874-5311 or visit its web site at www.uri.edu/outreach/rigec. Breast cancer remains the leading type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Just being a woman and getting older are the greatest risk factors for breast cancer. More than 75 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women age 50 and older. This program will address common barriers to breast cancer screening, particularly among older women, and offer strategies, resources and tools to overcome these barriers. The Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center, located at the University of Rhode Island, is a consortium of the URI Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy and Human Science and Services, Rhode Island College School of Social Work, Brown University School of Medicine, and Aging 2000. The mission of the center is to improve knowledge and skills in geriatrics and gerontology among health care providers to better meet the needs of the growing elderly population. For Information: Judith Sweeney 401-874-5311, Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116