Correspondent T.R. Reid to Speak at UA on Health Care

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nationally recognized correspondent and documentary filmmaker T.R. Reid will visit The University of Alabama Feb. 27 to speak on the topic of disparities in health care.

He will lecture at 7 p.m. in room 127 of the Biology Building on the UA campus.

Reid’s visit is a part of the 40^th anniversary of New College, and it is co-sponsored by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. His lecture is free and open to the public.

Reid’s latest book, “The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care,” looks at health-care systems in other developed countries as a inspiration to improve health care in the United States. PBS Frontline made two documentaries following Reid as he did reporting for the book, “Sick Around the World and India–A Second Opinion.”

Known for his work as a reporter for the Washington Post, Reid covered Congress and four presidential campaigns. He later served as the bureau chief for the Post in Tokyo and London. He is also a regular commentator on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition.” He has also made documentary films for National Geographic Television, PBS and the A&E Network.

His next film, “U.S. Health Care: The Good News” will be broadcast nationally on PBS this month. The film highlights Reid’s journey around the country to speak with doctors and health-care providers about how to provide high quality care at a reasonable cost.

New College is an interdisciplinary program offering individualized majors and minors in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. New College includes 11 faculty members, 210 students in self-designed majors, 50 students in self-designed minors, 50 students in minors in civic engagement and interdisciplinary environmental studies, and nearly 400 students in New College Life Track, the adult education program formerly known as the External Degree program.

The David Mathews Center for Civic Life’s is an organization that fosters infrastructure, habits and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative decision making. Previously known as the Alabama Center for Civic Life, it was renamed in 2008 to honor David Mathews, former president of The University of Alabama. The current mission is to work with communities on local as well as national issues.

UA’s College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.