Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH, Director of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement and Arkansas Surgeon General, will be the keynote speaker during the 2009 HEAL Conference. Dr. Thompson has been at the forefront of Arkansas's nation-leading efforts against childhood obesity, and in planning and implementing obesity-related health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Attendees will also hear from first round HEAL Community Grant Program recipients who will present early lessons learned in planning and launching their multi-sector HEAL projects during a panel discussion. Additional sessions will feature tools and resources for implementing HEAL interventions in New Hampshire communities and organizations.

The 2009 HEAL Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6. The all day event will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. The full conference agenda and registration information will be available later this summer.