[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 31691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12341]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Surgeon General's Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Surgeon General's Office, in conjunction with the National 
Institutes of Health, is hosting a conference titled: Surgeon General's 
Conference on the Prevention of Preterm Birth. The conference is open 
to the public.

DATES: The conference will be held on June 17, 2008 from 8 a.m. until 6 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 
Marinelli Road, Rockville, Maryland 20852; (301) 822-9200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michele Kiely, Office of the 
Surgeon General, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 18-66, 
Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; 301-
443-0448, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Preterm birth (PTB) remains one of the most 
complicated research and public health problems in obstetrics and 
pediatrics. Nearly 12 percent of all babies in the United States are 
born preterm, and this rate continues to rise.
    To underscore the importance of the problem, the United States 
Congress passed Public Law 109-450, the Prematurity Research Expansion 
and Education for Mothers Who Deliver Infants Early Act (PREEMIE Act). 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Surgeon 
General of the U.S. Public Health Service, shall convene a conference 
to address the growing epidemic of preterm birth.
    The purpose of the conference will be to:
    1. Increase awareness of preterm birth as a serious, common, and 
costly public health problem;
    2. Review the findings and reports issued by the Interagency 
Coordinating Council, key stakeholders, and any other relevant 
entities; and,
    3. Establish an agenda for activities in both the public and 
private sectors to address the identification of, treatments for, 
causes of, and risk factors for preterm labor and delivery.
    The Office of the Surgeon General, in partnership with public and 
private organizations, identified selected experts and community 
leaders from the research, public health, and medical communities 
committed to preventing preterm birth. Six (6) workgroups will be 
charged with reviewing the available published literature in advance of 
the conference, including recommendations from the Institute of 
Medicine report on Preterm Birth and emerging literature concerning 
activities needed to help prevent preterm birth. The workgroups will 
focus on specific key areas with the goal of establishing a national 
agenda and action plan for both the public and private sectors to 
address the identification of, treatments for, causes of, and risk 
factors for preterm labor and delivery. Each workgroup will be 
challenged to determine what action steps need to be taken to translate 
what we know into what needs to be done. The workgroups will also 
outline plans for future research to obtain answers to unresolved 
questions.
    The work groups will focus on the key areas of (1) Biomedical 
Research, (2) Epidemiological Research, (3) Psychosocial and Behavioral 
Contributors to Preterm Birth, (4) Professional Education and Training, 
(5) Public Communication and Outreach, and (6) Quality of Care and 
Health Services.
    On Tuesday, June 17, the work groups will present a statement of 
their collective assessment and a proposed national agenda to a general 
audience. Information useful in developing future strategies to address 
this public health concern will be presented in the final session of 
the conference.
    Advance information about the conference and registration materials 
can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/ under Features. Click on 
Surgeon General's Conference on Preventing Preterm Birth, June 16-17, 
2008. Public attendance is limited to June 17, 2008 on a space-
available basis. Pre-registration at the conference Web site is 
recommended. If space is available on the date of the conference, 
registration will be available at the door beginning at 7 a.m. Members 
of the public will have an opportunity to provide comments at the 
conference. Public comments will be limited to three minutes per 
speaker. Materials will be made available at the Web site several weeks 
before the meeting. Any members of the public who wish to share their 
views with the work groups before sessions begin can do so at the Web 
site prior to close of business on June 9, 2008. Additionally, the 
event will be live video/Webcast and can be viewed during the 
conference at http://videocast.nih.gov.
    Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as 
sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should 
notify the designated contact person.

    Dated: May 28, 2008.
Steven K. Galson,
RADM, USPHS, Acting Surgeon General.
 [FR Doc. E8-12341 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am]
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