WHAT:   Invitation to Cover Presidential Campaign Health Politics Forum at Johns Hopkins 

DETAILS:  The Department of Medicine will host a forum featuring official surrogates of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama at a special Grand Rounds. The format will include presentations representing each candidate’s position on health care issues and policies, including NIH funding for scientific research and ensuring fairness as it relates to indigent care and access.

WHEN:   Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
8-9:30 a.m.

WHERE:  Hurd Hall
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, Md.

WHO:  Representing the McCain campaign will be Congressman Michael Burgess, M.D., of the 26th District of Texas, senior health care advisor to the John McCain for President Campaign. A former obstetrician/gynecologist, Burgess is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is responsible for health care, the safety of food and drugs, energy and power legislation. He is also the vice chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.

Representing the Obama campaign will be Dora Hughes, M.D., M.P.H., health policy advisor to Obama. Board-certified in internal medicine, Hughes previously served as deputy director for health for Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Hughes served as senior program officer at The Commonwealth Fund, a national health foundation in New York City.

The event will be moderated by Edward Miller, M.D., dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Those in attendance will include faculty, staff and students from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

NOTE TO MEDIA: EVENT IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC