“Compete, Empower, Unite” 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games Research Symposium Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General of the United States will deliver the keynote address at the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games Research Symposium. He graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with a bachelor of science degree and medical degree and also earned a masters of public health from the University of Arizona. Dr. Carmona has worked in various positions in the medical field including paramedic, registered nurse and physician. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is also certified in correctional health care and in quality assurance. For a full biography of Dr. Carmona, please visit the U.S. Surgeon General Web site. [Photo courtesy U.S. Surgeon General Web site] On 1 July, 2006 from 8 a.m., 5:30 p.m. at the Gateway and Conference Center, Ames, Iowa, Special Olympics will conduct a one-day symposium that will highlight subjects ranging from health and fitness to attitude change and the impact of the Special Olympics movement. The symposium will provide a forum to assess the current status of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States, to learn about new research findings, and to challenge one another on what needs to be done to meet the needs of this underserved and often overlooked population. For more information or to register online visit the Iowa State University University Conference Services Web site. The keynote address is “Ready Providers and Healthy People — Mandate & Opportunity” delivered by Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General of the United States. Participants in the discussions will include Special Olympics Program leaders, policymakers, health care practitioners, Special Olympics athletes, and academic experts in public health, education and employment.      < Download a Research Symposium Fact Sheet, Adobe PDF, 95K) > Topics for the Symposium: Progress for People with Intellectual Disabilities      Moderated by Dr. David Braddock, Associate Vice President, University of Colorado System, and Executive Director, Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities Health Promotion for People with Intellectual Disabilities — It Can and Must Be Done      Moderated by Dr. Antonia Novello, Commissioner of Health for the State of New York and former Surgeon General of the United States Creating Welcoming Communities for People with Intellectual Disabilities      Moderated by Dr. Gary Siperstein, Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Director of the Center for Social Development and Education More Solutions and Better Solutions by and for People with Intellectual Disabilities      Moderated by Dr. Stephen Corbin, Special Olympics Inc. Senior Vice President for Constituent Services and Dean, Special Olympics University Additional Symposium Speakers: Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Board, Special Olympics International Rick Rader, Director, Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center, and Editor-in-Chief, Exceptional Parent Magazine Madeleine Will, Vice President of Public Policy and Director, National Policy Center, National Down Syndrome Society Eddie Barbanell, actor and co-star in the recent film The Ringer. Loretta Claiborne, Member, Board of Directors, Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Athlete Dr. Jose Cordero, Assistant Surgeon General and Director, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC Dr. Michael Stein, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School Stephanie Smith Lee, Senior Policy Advisor, National Policy Center, National Down Syndrome Society Richard Conley, International Global Messenger, Special Olympics International Dr. James Rimmer, Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development, UIC, and Director, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability Dr. Tamar Heller, Professor and Head, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago Dr. Suzanne McDermott, Professor and Research Director, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Creighton Wall, Special Olympics Nebraska athlete and author of the book, “I Used to be Down, but Now I Love My Life” Robert Bacon, Director, Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Center for Disabilities and Development Dr. Michael Wehmeyer, Professor of Special Education, and Director, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities Dr. Mary Frank, Board Chair, American Academy of Family Physicians Bill Sinnard, Executive Director, Hability Solution Services, Inc. Dr. Patricia Favazza, Senior Research Associate, Center for Social Development and Education, University of Massachusetts Visit the Research section of this Web site for more information on how Special Olympics has emerged as a global leader in cutting-edge research and evaluation,promoting better understanding of issues surrounding intellectual disabilities.