<p>From disease prevention and diagnosis to management and treatment, health care is a diverse business, with scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, physicians, and industry leaders throughout the region striving to improve it. A broad swath of health care issues and innovations will be discussed in a series of talks and presentations at the Rhode Island Healthcare Showcase Oct. 15 at the Alpert Medical School, 222 Richmond St.</p>

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — The breadth of health care and of the region’s biomedical industry will be on display at the Rhode Island Healthcare Showcase 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, at the Alpert Medical School, 222 Richmond St.

The showcase aims to stitch together the state’s network of physicians, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, officials, and health care business leaders, said Katherine Gordon, director of Brown University’s Technology Ventures Office.

“Health care goes well beyond just taking a pill,” Gordon said. “We expect over 150 people from all corners of the health care sector to engage in lively and topical debates about innovation in the industry and public health, including how smarter technology, design, and disease management could help patients in the future.”

The showcase is presented by Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, Rhode Island School of Design, and University of Rhode Island in collaboration with the Lifespan and Care New England health systems.

Speakers and posters

Brown Provost Dr. Mark Schlissel will introduce keynote speaker John L. Brooks III, president and CEO of the Boston-based Joslin Diabetes Center. Brooks will talk about the array of approaches and technologies brought to bear on the chronic ailment that affects millions of people worldwide. Diabetes care includes a full continuum of research, education, technology, and treatments meant to prevent, manage, and ultimately cure the disease.

After Brooks’ talk, Terrie Fox Wetle, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, will introduce three panels where expert speakers will debate fundamental areas of innovation in health care:

  • Our Aging Population and Aging Brains — Medical, Home and Social Design Challenges for the 21st Century will be moderated by Peter Snyder, Lifespan senior vice president and chief research officer and professor of neurology (research) at the Alpert Medical School. It features panelists Ara Khachaturian, executive editor of Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association; Dr. Richard Besdine, professor of medicine and professor of health services policy and practice at Brown; and Leslie Fontana, professor of industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
  • The Future of Genomics in Medicine will be moderated by Dr. Barrett W. Bready, president and CEO of the Providence gene sequencing company Nabsys Inc. The panelists are Patrice Milos, CEO of the Boston genetic diagnostic testing company Claritas Genomics; Per Lofberg, executive vice president of CVS Caremark; and Benjamin Raphael, associate professor of computer science at Brown.
  • Medical Nutrition – Treatment of Disease and Conditions using Nutritional Strategies will be moderated by Stephen Lane, co-founder, chairman, and chief venture officer of Providence medical product development firm Ximedica. The panelists are Mary Flynn, assistant professor of medicine (research) at Brown and a nutrition expert at Miriam Hospital; Dr. David Berry, CEO of Cambridge, Mass., therapeutic nutrients maker Pronutria; and Jim Currie, director of marketing strategy and insights at Nestlé Health Science-Pamlab.

After the panels, attendees can learn about scores of research projects in Rhode Island universities, hospitals, and other institutions at a poster session introduced by Dr. Jack Elias, dean of medicine and biological sciences at Brown. The posters span five themes: diagnostics, health care practice, information technology and personalized medicine, public health, and therapeutics.

Space is limited. People wishing to participate may register online.