This year’s program focused on African American health disparities and featured an all-star panel including Dr. Bill Releford, Founder of the Releford Foot and Ankle Institute in Los Angeles

1. CBM & AAC Host Annual Summit and Newsmaker Luncheon
May 24, 2012 | Front Page
By California Black Media (CBM)
A statewide media advocacy group, hosted its 5th Annual Summit and Newsmaker Luncheon in
partnership with the League of California Cities African American Caucus on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the
Holiday Inn, downtown Sacramento from 11:30am to 2:00 pm. This informative and empowering
conference was attended by media publishers, media representatives, entrepreneurs, non-profit
representatives, and other dignitaries.
This year’s program focused on African American health disparities and featured an all-star panel including
Dr. Bill Releford, Founder of the Releford Foot and Ankle Institute in Los Angeles, Robert Phillips, Director of
Health Programs at the Sierra Health Foundation in Sacramento and Lydia Bourne, Lobbyist and Policy
Consultant at the California Black Health Network in Sacramento. Dr. Bill Releford is a podiatry surgeon
and Founder of the Releford Foot and Ankle Institute. Dr. Releford is also the Founder of the Black
Barbershop Health Outreach, a program that visits Black barbershops across the nation to conduct free
health screenings including diabetes, prostate and high blood pressure testing. Dr. Releford has made
appearances on the The View with Barbara Walters, ABC News, CBS News, and Dr. Drew’s daytime
television show.
Robert Phillips oversees the development and implementation of the health unit as the director of health
programs at the Sierra Health Foundation, an organization that supports health related activities across
northern California. Prior to his post, Mr. Phillips was a senior fellow, director, and senior program officer
at The California Endowment where he led a number of efforts to improve the health of young men of
color including health care reform and health advocacy. Lydia Bourne has served in the health sector as a
Registered Nurse. She is also a health educator, program developer and administrator. She currently serves
as managing partner of her governmental relations firm, Bourne & Associates. She has met with past
California governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis to advocate for better health initiatives on
behalf of the African American community and successfully influenced key legislation.
Moderating the African American health panel was Tommy Ross, President and CEO of Pinnacle Strategy
Group and producer of the 2011 film “Church: The Movie” starring Darius McCray (Family Matters) and
Joseph Phillips (The Cosby Show), which appeared on BET. The panelists disseminated critical information
regarding the status of African American health. Dr. Releford spoke about cardiovascular disease and why
Blacks are so vulnerable to diabetes. He also spoke about his findings as the facilitator of the Black
Barbershop Health Outreach tour. He said he was motivated to initiate the outreach program as a result of
the large number of African American limb amputations.
Ms. Bourne analyzed various public policies and legislation affecting African Americans’ access to

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healthcare and Mr. Phillips spoke about the effect of race and place on African American health. Mr. Phillips
made a very profound statement when he said, “Tell me your zip code and I can tell you how long you’re
going to live.”
At the conclusion of the program, a special presentation was given to Justice Vance Raye, the Presiding
Justice of the 3rd District Court of Appeal of California, Dr. Bill Releford, the Founder of the Black
Barbershop Health Outreach and Releford Foot and Ankle Institute and James Sweeney, Principal of
Sweeney & Association. These individuals were selected as CBM’s 2012 Newsmakers for their
demonstration of quality leadership and their commitment to the communities they serve throughout their
respective organizations and associations. For more information about CBM and the 2012 Annual Summit
and Newsmaker Luncheon, you may contact Ashley Jones at (951) 682-2664.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paulette Brown-Hinds
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