Phi Beta Kappa Health Forum

In the midst of seemingly endless talk show discussions, presidential addresses and constantly evolving legislation, it's no wonder many feel lost in the health care debate. However, on Thurs., Dec. 3, Phi Beta Kappa teamed up with health experts to make sense of the current crisis dominating America's airwaves.

The scholastic honor society held a free, public forum on health care reform at 4 p.m. in the Scholars Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Four panelists -- all with experience in some area of health -- answered questions and gave their perspectives on various health care issues. Phi Beta Kappa President Kyle Harper hosted the forum and fielded questions to the panelists. Audience members were encouraged to ask questions as well, but only one did, out of about 50 in attendance.

The panel consisted of: Jason Sanders, OU alumnus and health care consultant for McKinsey and Co.; Brian Karnes, executive director of Health for Friends; David Kendrick, chair of community medicine for OU-Tulsa; and Sarah Tracy, director of the medical humanities program at OU, according to a press release.

Recent discussion on health care reform has centered on drafting a bill that will garner approval from both political parties and the American public. Kendrick said it could take between one and two years to hash out the technicalities of such a bill, and even more time to pass it.

"The problem is, there is no black and white (when it comes to health care). There are only shades of gray in this debate," he said.

Karnes said he currently serves approximately 2,500 patients in Norman through his Health for Friends charity program, which requires an income at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify. Since the economic downturn, he said, many people have lost health insurance -- driving his patient enrollment up 30 percent in the past year.

While the public waits on legislation to remedy the problem, Karnes encouraged people to take an active role in improving health care close to home.

"We don't need to wait on the federal government to fix things. We can do it today, you can do it today. Volunteer, do what you can," he said. "We have so many just here in Norman being affected by this (crisis)."