TUSKEGEE, Ala. - (April 4, 2007) - On April 19 and 20, the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study in Macon County, Ala., the 35th anniversary marking the end of the study and the 10th anniversary of the Presidential Apology for the syphilis study.

Activities begin with an evening reception at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 19 in the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center Atrium and Patio. There will be a Friday morning lecture series with Dr. Annette Dula as the principal presenter along with other panelists from the bioethics community. The commemoration culminates with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Dr. Anne C. Beal, senior program officer for Quality of Care for Underserved Populations at the Commonwealth Fund. The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high-performing health-care system that achieves better access, improved quality and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, young children and elderly adults and other underserved communities.

Each year the Bioethics Center commemorates President Bill Clinton's apology for the syphilis study conducted in Macon County, Ala.  On May 16, 1997 President Clinton offered the apology to the study participants, their families, Tuskegee University, the Macon county community and African-American citizens for the egregious action of the federal government.

This year's theme, "75-35-10 Beyond Experimentation Disclosure Commemoration Transformation," not only marks these significant anniversaries, it looks forward to help determine policies that will one day eradicate disparities and distrust in research and health care.

The Center continues to build upon the rich history and commitment of Tuskegee University and its founder, Booker T. Washington, to seek improvements in the health and health care of African Americans.

Additionally, honors, awards and recognitions will be bestowed upon those returning descendants of the study participants, Sankofa Bird Honorees, student members of our ethics and business ethics bowl teams, and the student recipient of the Tuskegee University Charles Pollard Scholarship.

To register or for more information, contact Beverly Ebo, (334) 725-2319.