January 29, 2007

Whitworth to Focus on Health Sciences during College's Annual Heritage Week Feb. 8-16

Community invited to events including a lecture and panel discussion on healthcare, a concert, a ballet performance, and an art-show opening

Members of the Spokane community are invited to join Whitworth students, faculty, staff and alumni for most Heritage Week events. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. For complete events details, visit www.whitworth.edu/heritageweek.

As Heritage Week's keynote speaker, Dr. Borg will present a lecture, "U.S. Healthcare – Critical Condition: Your Health Depends on It," on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall's Robinson Teaching Theatre. According to Borg, employer-sponsored health insurance is dying, and Americans are worried sick that healthcare is not affordable. During his lecture he will respond to questions including the following: How did our healthcare system reach the point of needing life support? What does the Consumer and Information Healthcare Age mean to you? Where is this all going in a world of healthcare haves and have-nots?

Borg is vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

On Thursday, Feb. 15, Whitworth will host a panel discussion, "Healthcare in Spokane: Challenges for the 21st Century." Panelists include Jeff Nelson, president and CEO of Empire Health Services; Jan Martinez, director of Christ Kitchen; Danielle Riggs, director of Christ Clinic; Lloyd Guthrie, district administrator for Group Health, Eastern Washington, and Dorothy Detlor, dean emeritus and professor, Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing. The panel discussion will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall's Robinson Teaching Theatre.

Following is information about other Whitworth Heritage Week events:

Thursday, Feb. 8:
• Founder's Day Convocation
11 a.m., Cowles Auditorium
Each semester begins with Whitworth's Opening Convocation, which features music and worship, faculty in academic regalia, and an opportunity to honor top students. President Bill Robinson and Professor of History Dale Soden, Whitworth's campus historian, will speak.

• Ballet Spokane Performance of "Dreams!"
7:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium
"Dreams!" is a new, original ballet written by a group of sixth-grade students during the 2006 Whitworth Writing Rally. Ballet Spokane chose the music and created the choreography for the production. The ballet tells the story of two children who see each other in their dreams and explores some of the classic things that people dream about and the comical ways that people's subconscious minds send them messages.

Friday, Feb. 9
• Gospel Explosion Concert
7 p.m., Cowles Auditorium
The 10th annual Gospel Explosion Concert, hosted by the Whitworth Black Student Union, will feature singers and musicians from Whitworth and the Spokane community.

Tuesday, Feb. 13
• Art Exhibit, "Communities in Crisis," by Gordon Wilson
5-7 p.m., Reception, lobby of Fine Arts Building
7 p.m., Artist's talk, Koehler Gallery, Fine Arts Building

"Communities in Crisis" is a mixed-media series that illustrates experiences of injustice, prejudice and compassion before, during and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Wilson created the series based on his involvement in the January 2006 Whitworth study program "Communities in Crisis: Service and Learning in the Gulf Coast." The exhibit will run through March 23.

Thursday, Feb. 15
• Chapel Service
11 a.m., Seeley Mudd Chapel
Join the Whitworth community as it gathers for the college's weekly worship service.

Friday, Feb. 16
• Whitworth Pirates Basketball
6 & 8 p.m., Whitworth Fieldhouse, $5 admission
Women's and men's basketball double-header against Willamette University

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college, which has an enrollment of more than 2,500 students, offers 53 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Tad Wisenor, director, annual giving, alumni, parent and church relations, (509) 777-4401 or twisenor@whitworth.edu.

Julie Riddle, public information officer, Whitworth College, (509) 777-3729 or jriddle@whitworth.edu.