Other events include panels focused on community health concerns, student health care, alternatives to traditional medical treatment, minority health care, health-care reform and issues facing health-care providers. All events are free and open to the public. For more information on the conference, contact the Diversity Office at 801 626-6196.

Oct. 7

The Arthritis Foundation will hold its annual Arthritis Walk at Wheeler Farm, and teams and individuals are invited to join. Information is available at www.arthritis.org or by calling 801-536-0990.

Arthritis or chronic joint symptoms impacts 66 million Americans, or one out of three adults and approximately 300,000 children, including more than 383,000 Utahns.

There are more than 400 local Arthritis Walks, each featuring a three-mile and one-mile course. Participants can walk for a friend or a family member with arthritis, while people with arthritis wear blue hats to signify they are walking to take control of their arthritis.

Oct. 7

"Walk a Block for Awareness," a rally and walk on behalf of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers will begin at 1 p.m. on the east steps of the Salt Lake City-County Building and end at the main library, where an encore presentation of two documentary films about the conditions will be presented at 2 p.m.

Oct. 7

The Uptown Downs "Buddy Walk," 5K run and carnival to raise awareness, promote acceptance and aid research and advocacy for those with Down syndrome will be held at Murray Park, southeast corner by Parkside Elementary, reached from 5300 South. The 5K run starts at 9 a.m., and registration for the buddy walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

It's the only fund-raiser for the group. There will also be food, clowns, carnival games, tattoos and more. Registration is $10 each or $25 for a family of four. All individuals with Down syndrome are welcome free of charge. Admission includes a box lunch, commemorative T-shirt, access to all the games and entertainment as well as an opportunity to participate in a large raffle. Local businesses and community groups donate gifts and services, which are then raffled off with the proceeds going to Uptown Downs, the Salt Lake County chapter of the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation, which serves more than 450 families in Salt Lake County. Donations are tax deductible. For information, call Lisa Kingsbury at 801-576-9158.

Oct. 10

A team approach to low back pain is the topic of a free evening-with-the-experts workshop from 6-8 p.m. at TOSH — The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, 5848 S. 300 East.

The workshop includes presentations on the roles of surgeons, therapists, physiatrists and psychologists in treating low back pain, followed by four break-out sessions taught by TOSH physical therapists on aquatic therapy, body mechanics, back-exercise basics and healthy golf.

Sponsors are TOSH and the Intermountain Spine Institute. To register, call 801-314-4136.

—Compiled by Lois M. Collins