Featured guest Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen opened the New Jersey Health Care Summit on Women and Heart Disease that took place April 27 in Morristown. Sponsored by Pharma, Hon. Bob Franks, President of the HealthCare Institute of NJ, introduced the program. Presenting was Women's Heart Foundation President Bonnie Arkus who spoke on "Creating Wellness Programs in Schools", highlighting the WHF Teen Esteem program and lessons learned. Ms. Arkus noted that 75% of adolescents attending "regular" gym class do not participate in activities, accepting a failing grade; whereas 90% do participate in the all-girl Teen Esteem class. She concluded that co-ed gym classes are detrimental to girl health and questioned if Title 9 that creates equal opportunity for women in sports may inadvertently be contributing to the growing epidemic of overweight and obese teen girls. The free event was attended by 350 women who enjoyed a continental breakfast, health fair with screenings by local hospital participants and an expert panel discussion on "Research, Detection and Treatment in New Jersey". Dr. Patrice Desvigne-Nickens of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute served as keynote, and addressed the Women's Health Study and research updates. The Summit raised important health concerns about women's #1 killer and the urgent need for wellness and prevention programs and expansion of awareness efforts, particularly among minority women and those who are under-insured women. Minority women experience a higher rate of death from cardiovascular diseases.   View conference brochure.