Updated: UNC Chancellor Thorp Headlines TEDxChapelHill on Global Health and Technology

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From cell phones to enhanced diagnostics, crowd-sourcing, and mobile medical devices, a growing number of innovative technologies—and innovators—are improving access to high-quality health care for vulnerable populations worldwide. Leaders in the field will discuss how they are solving unique global health challenges at an independently organized TEDxChapelHill event on Thursday, June 2, at the Varsity Theater in Chapel Hill. 

TEDxChapelHill will focus on the role technology plays in the modern era of global health. UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp will open the event with a presentation on innovation and entrepreneurship at the university level. Other presenters include Robert Malkin of Duke University, Josh Nesbit of Medic Mobile, Jon Gosier of Appfrica and Ushahidi, Jonathan Kuniholm of Open Prosthetics, and Dr. Radhika Chigurupati of Sana.

"It's great to have a TEDx event in Chapel Hill because it gives us all an opportunity to focus on innovation and entrepreneurship," said Thorp. "University communities are full of people with great ideas."

Heather LaGarde, the organizer of the event, is the Partnerships Advisor at IntraHealth International and oversees the IntraHealth OPEN Initiative focused on global health technology and local capacity building in partnership with Youssou N'Dour and other changemakers.

The TEDxChapelHill event will include the use of interactive technologies, as well as the West African-inspired music of "Diali Cissokho & Kairaba!"

For more information about attending the event, please visit http://tedxchapelhill.com.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. At TED, the world's leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Two major TED events are held each year: The TED Conference takes place every spring in Long Beach, California (along with a parallel conference, TEDActive, in Palm Springs), and TEDGlobal is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily; the new TED Conversations, enabling broad conversations among TED fans; and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide.

TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

For information about TED's upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED

SOURCE IntraHealth International