SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois Department of Public Health is sponsoring the fifth annual Illinois Women's Health Conference on Tuesday (Oct. 28) and Wednesday (Oct. 29) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Approximately 400 people are expected to attend the two-day conference, which will feature a broad range of topics, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, cultural diversity, body image and osteoporosis.

Louanner Peters, deputy chief of staff for social services in the Office of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, will give the opening remarks Tuesday during lunch, which begins at 11:45 a.m.

The conference's keynote speaker will be Dr. Wanda K. Jones, deputy assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the director of the Department's Office of Women's Health, who will address the issue of health disparities for women, as well as provide up-to-date information on women's health issues. She will speak at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.