Two former surgeon generals will participate in a symposium on campus tomorrow aimed at addressing strategies to improve the health of young people.

The Office of Public Health Practice, a part of the School of Public Health, will host its fifth annual practice symposium entitled “Public Health Leadership to Improve the Health of Young People.”

The anticipated highlight of the day will be the surgeon generals’ panel that is set to include questions from the audience about public health issues.

Joycelyn Elders, the 15th U.S. surgeon general, and Richard Carmona, the 17th U.S. surgeon general will take questions and speak throughout the day. Also included in the event is Marian Wright Edelman, the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Elders is currently a pediatrician and public health administrator. She was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the first African-American appointed to U.S. surgeon general, when then-President Bill Clinton appointed her to the post.

Currently a physician and public health administrator, Carmona was also a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. President George W. Bush appointed him to surgeon general in 2002.

The event will take place tomorrow at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater in the Michigan League. It will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.

There will also be a live Internet video cast.

Victor J. Strecher, a professor and director at the Center for Health Communications Research at the University’s School of Public Health and Medicine, will speak at the luncheon, which is also part of the symposium.

The purpose of the day is to examine the issue of public health leadership and how it relates to the complexity of youth health. The event is also a forum for public health officials and leaders to gain insight on how to address the challenges of improving the health of young people.

For more information or to register for the event, contact the Michigan League.