Frist unable to attend sold-out health-care forum, due to Haiti trip; WUFT-FM to broadcast forum

January 15, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has regretfully informed the University of Florida that he will not be able to attend today’s event at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service on “Bipartisanship in the Health Care Debate.”

Frist, a physician and former senator from Tennessee, was making his way to Haiti Sunday night to use his skills to assist in disaster relief. Frist sent out a message on Twitter saying, “Haiti needs surgeons, so I am headed that way.”

The challenge in Haiti, is the lack of infrastructure this is there, other countries, say in Africa, even have resources and infrastructure, but it doesn’t exist in Haiti, so what we need to do is come together to support,” Frist added.

This isn’t the first time Frist has helped out with international causes. He’s traveled to Africa several times to provide medical care, and he supports various programs to fight HIV/AIDS.

WUFT-FM to broadcast sold-out Graham Center health care forum featuring former senators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The health care debate has polarized the nation as much as any political issue in the 21st century. Now, University of Florida public radio station WUFT-FM will give listeners a chance to tune into a local town hall meeting about the topic with former U.S. Senate majority leaders representing both parties.

WUFT-FM will broadcast the UF Bob Graham Center for Public Service’s sold-out, 90-minute “Bipartisanship in the Health Care Debate” at 7 p.m. Tuesday from the Pugh Hall Ocora. The
meeting features former Sens. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

“Both are deeply involved in the debate over health care reform,” said Vicki Gervickas, a spokeswoman for the Graham Center. They will shed light on health care and bipartisanship, Gervickas noted.

“Although the discussion will center on health care, the real purpose of the forum will be to discover what lessons can be learned for bipartisan cooperation in crucial issues facing the U.S. today,” she said.

This type of local programming is a key element of WUFT-FM’s expanded news and public affairs commitment, said John Wright, dean of the UF College of Journalism and Communications, which houses the stations.

“We are committed to giving our listeners the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the issues that affect their lives, families and communities,” Wright said.

WUFT-FM 89.1 – which broadcasts news and public affairs programs on its primary channel, classical/art programming on HD2 and old-time radio on HD3 – is part of the college’s newly restructured Division of Multimedia Properties. It simulcasts programs on its sister station, WJUF-FM 90.1.

The college is a national leader in the professional education of future journalists and other communication practitioners. It offers undergraduate programs in advertising, print and broadcast journalism, public relations, and telecommunication; and graduate programs in science/health communication, media law, political communication and international communication.