Town Meeting Tonight to Cover Health Care Issues in U.S. and Other Countries; Free, but Registration Required

Seldom has a national debate so captured the public's attention as the Washington maneuverings on health care, which comprises about one-seventh of the nation's economy. The effort to overhaul the country's health-care system reaches into every home, with potentially profound effects on businesses, hospitals and families.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's fourth town meeting is designed to shine a light onto not only how Americans finance their health care but also how other countries do so. With a top-level panel of experts and writers, this evening's event will be informative--and provocative.

Wednesday, November 4 • 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Heinz History Center
Free Admission • Registration is Required
Call 412-263-3850 to Register

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Introduction by Jim Rohr, Chairman & CEO, PNC

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Moderator: David Shribman Executive Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive editor since 2003. Former assistant managing editor, columnist and Washington bureau chief at the Boston Globe. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1995.

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Panelists:

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	T.R. Reid Author, The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care Washington Post correspondent and New York Times bestselling author T. R. Reid explores health-care systems around the world in an effort to understand why the U.S. remains the only first world nation to refuse its citizens universal health care. His book dissects the rhetoric surrounding the health care debate and finds models around the world that Americans can borrow.
	Robert Kormos, M.D. Director, UPMC Artificial Heart Program Co-Director, UPMC Heart Transplant Program A native of Canada, Dr. Kormos completed residencies in neurosurgery, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Toronto General Hospital and provides Canadian health care perspective. In addition to director of UPMC's heart transplant program, he is professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and medical director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
	Leslie C. Davis President, Magee-Womens Hospital Provides national perspective as president of Magee and as an executive at medical centers including Mt. Sinai Medical Center (NY), Thomas Jefferson University, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Tenet Pennsylvania. She also serves as Vice President of Women’s Health Services at UPMC and is UPMC's representative to the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.
	Mark Roth Staff Writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Returned to full-time writing in 2005 after 20 years as an editor at the Post-Gazette. Was the newspaper's first science editor, and 1988-2005, served as city editor, assistant managing editor for news, and as an editor in charge of special issues, investigative stories and long-term projects. His monthly series The Thinkers focuses on the region's brightest researchers and progressive leaders.

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PARKING:
Alco lot with entrance at 12th and Smallman across from the restaurant Eleven. Parking: $4

EVENT LOCATION:
Mueller Education Center, 5th floor

QUESTIONS:
Question cards will be distributed to attendees and collected during the program. PG editors will select questions to be asked of panelists.

REGISTRATION:
Attendance is free but registration is required. Call 412-263-3850 to register.

TOWN MEETING SERIES:
PNC and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will host a series of five town meetings this year. This series will examine the new era and its promise in the Pittsburgh region across a wide range of areas, from politics to the economy, from the arts to education, from health care to technology, from demographics to diversity. This yearlong series of free town meetings will help shape the conversation of Pittsburgh as we move into a new age. Whether it's called an exercise in community education or participatory democracy, the Post-Gazette hopes readers will call each Town meeting a date to circle on their calendars as each is announced.

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Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/aboutpg/townmeeting.asp#ixzz0VtocuzUh