Inaugural “Health Matters” Conference Tackles Major Issues

The PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge can add another accomplishment to its growing list of trailblazing activities. The William J. Clinton Foundation, paired with Desert Regional Medical Center hosted the inaugural “Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation” conference at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. The conference continues the tournament’s new focus on health and well-being in light of their new partnership with Humana and the Clinton Foundation.

The conference brought together hundreds of doctors, teachers, industry professionals, entertainment icons and athletes, all with one goal: Building a healthier tomorrow. “Health Matters is such an awesome time for California,” said San Diego community leader and mother Lakeysha Sowunmi. “Basically they’re bringing community members together and we’re trying to empower one another by sharing our stories and our experiences.”

The conference featured a series of panels tackling specific problems in the health spectrum, a major passion for President Clinton. “This is an economic issue, it’s an inter-generational issue, because of the baby boomer retirement issue, and it’s an issue for the whole future of America,” said Clinton.

One constant theme and major obstacle in the way of a healthier country is the issue of childhood obesity. “We really need to get at this problem vigorously,” said Dr. David Satcher, former Surgeon General. “We need to invest especially in the health of children, providing opportunities for children to be physically active, and to develop habits of good nutrition.”

However, locally, budget cuts and a slow economy can make it difficult to provide children with the resources they need to remain healthy. “Lack of access to good foods which can be expensive, and exercise and programs in schools which can be beneficial for children,” said Karolee Sowle, Chief Executive Officer for Desert Regional Medical Center. “We want to be part of that solution.”

While the panels discussed possible solutions to childhood obesity, students from the Coachella Valley learned strategies to make change. “They inspire us to actually go out and tell our peers what’s going on in our community and what we can we can do for better health,” said Coachella Valley high school junior Adela Lopez.

Lopez’s response to the issues of child obesity is exactly what organizers hoped young people would learn about a serious problem in society. “This isn’t so much about how our children look,” said Dr. Dwayne Proctor from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “We’re in the middle of a health epidemic right now and it takes these types of measures and this conscious thought to make the changes to see a better life in our children.”

Despite some financial challenges, schools like Indio Middle School continue to encourage their students to get outside and play. “We have not only weekly but daily activities at our schools,” said principal Jesus Jimenez. “We’re very happy to provide those, even in these difficult times.”

President Clinton also used professional athletes to serve as role models for the young people. “The athletes should be leading the charge in this global health initiative, because we’re the ones that have a good understanding of nutrition and exercise and how it relates to performance,” said professional golfer Notah Begay III.

However, the major challenge is keeping up the dialogue and taking action even when President Clinton and the Humana Challenge leave the desert after the tournament. “What we need to do as a community is to ensure that the message and the lessons and the action that’s created here, continues throughout the years, as well as penetrates all communities in our district,” said Dr. Raul Ruiz.

President Clinton finished his opening remarks with a strong message. “Our children’s ability to raise our grandchildren depends on our not consuming per capita, as many health care dollars, as people in our age group have been consuming, relatively speaking, for the last couple of years. We have to stay healthy!”