WICHITA, KAN. – The Kansas Health Foundation is hosting several nationally recognized speakers during the 2016 Health Symposium June 9-10 at the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita.

KHF is based in Wichita, but is statewide in its focus. With a mission to improve the health of Kansans, KHF envisions a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work, and play.

During the symposium, titled “Reshaping Our Reality,” the Foundation will continue the opportunity for Kansans to join in the battle for a healthier Kansas. The two-day event will feature renowned keynote speakers such as author Robert Putnam and John Quinones, host of ABC’s What Would You Do?

The full keynote speaker lineup:

• Dr. Richard Carmona – As the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Carmona served on the frontlines of our nation’s battle for better health, including authoring landmark reports about the dangers of secondhand smoke and championing nationwide prevention efforts.
• Tonya Lewis Lee – With a background of writing children’s books, producing TV shows, and directing documentaries, Lee is nationally known for her creative touch and boundless energy.
• Robert Putnam – A prolific author of books and academic journal articles, Dr. Putnam catapulted to worldwide acclaim more than a decade ago with the release of his book Bowling Alone, which examined the fraying fabric of our nation’s civic and community cultures.
• John Zogby – A worldwide thought leader and trend analyst, Zogby used his expertise as a political pollster to create a custom, Kansas-focused poll conducted with the aim of determining what Kansans are thinking about during this election cycle.
• John Quinones – Weaving in video clips and stories from his show What Would You Do?, Quinones will talk about his personal story and how a helping hand or courageous act can transform lives and reshape communities.

The symposium will also feature two panel discussions – one on health equity and one on civic health. During an intensive strategic planning process in 2015, the Foundation chose these two program areas for its strategic focus.