Announcement of the Center and Director, Feb. 13, 2007

Inaugural Forum, Feb. 26, 2007

Economic Impact Study, Jacksonville MSA, 2007

Access to Care Forum, May 20, 2007

The Caring Community Conference, Sept. 26-28, 2007

Caring Community Conference Public Forum, Nov. 27, 2007

The Caring Community Conference Update, April 29, 2008

The Global Medicine and Public Health Initiative, May 20, 2008

Announcement of the Center and Director, Feb. 13, 2007
video

On Feb. 13, 2007, University of North Florida President John Delaney and Brooks College of Health Dean Pamela Chally announced the creation of the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy.  Dr. Yank D. Coble was named Center Director and Distinguished Professor.  

Dr. Coble brings 35 years of experience in clinical medicine and medical diplomacy to the Center, including service as president of the World Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the Florida Medical Association. He has also served as a leader in national organizations committed to medical care quality and research, such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Physician’s Consortium for Quality Improvement and the National Quality Forum.  Dr. Coble explained that the mission of the Center is to promote excellence and balance in the caring, ethics and science of health and medical care, fostering global understanding and collective action for improving health and medical care.  The Center will work to bring regional, national and international experts together to discuss health care issues, sponsoring a series of forums to encourage discussion about local and global health issues, and foster activities to enhance healthcare quality and access to care.

Center Mission Statement

The Inaugural Forum: 
Global Health and Medical Diplomacy: Quiet Advocacy, Feb. 26, 2007
Event Program
Watch Video 
On February 26, 2007, the Center held the first Caring Community Forum with Dr. John Howe, President of Project Hope, as the Distinguished Lecturer on Medical Diplomacy.  Project Hope is an international health foundation with offices and programs in 30 countries, and publisher of "Health Affairs," a health policy journal. The reception was attended by nearly 150, and the lecture by over 500.  The forum was jointly sponsored by the Center and the World Affairs Council.  
 
Dr. Howe’s presentation illustrated the many ways in which Project Hope accomplishes its
stated mission: To achieve sustainable advances in health care around the world by implementing health education programs and providing humanitarian assistance in areas of need. A major success illustrated by Dr. Howe was the relief work Project HOPE performed following the Tsunami that devastated many areas of Asia in December 2004.  The U.S. Navy and a host of American doctors volunteered their services for disaster relief in a remarkable display of medical diplomacy.  Dr. Howe shared the results of a BBC study which showed dramatic improvement in global public perception of the United States in the months following this volunteer service. 

Earlier in the day, Dr. Howe met with leadership of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and many health and medical professionals regarding the growth of high quality health and medical care and bioscience industry.
 

Economic Impact Study of the Healthcare and Bioscience Industry in Jacksonville

On Feb. 26, 2007, Dr. John Howe, President of Project Hope, visited the Center to lecture on Medical Diplomacy. (Project Hope is an international health foundation with offices and programs in 30 countries, and publisher of "Health Affairs," a health policy journal.) Earlier in the day, Dr. Howe spoke to members of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce on the topic of healthcare and bioscience growth in San Antonio. As a result of Dr. Howe’s presentation, the Center, in collaboration with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida, planned and commissioned the first Economic Impact Study of the Healthcare and Bioscience Industry in the Jacksonville MSA. Results showed that in 2005, healthcare and related industries in Jacksonville, Florida, employed 1/6th of the workforce, and contributed almost $22 billion dollars in direct economic impact. The total direct, indirect and induced impact was greater than $40 billion. 

Data provided by the study allows for comparison to other cities, and indicates that healthcare industries make a major contribution to the Jacksonville economy. Cities that have been successful at nurturing healthcare and bioscience industries enjoy a higher per-capita income than cities without significant healthcare/bioscience industry. When considering the per-capita economic impact of healthcare and related industries, Jacksonville compares favorably to other prominent cities such as Raleigh, San Antonio, Houston and Atlanta. The study provides a benchmark against which future growth in healthcare and bioscience will be measured. Results of the study were instrumental in the planning of the Caring Community Conference. 

To view a copy of the Economic Impact Study click here.

A  Community Forum: 
Access to Care: the Critical Conundrum, May 20, 2007
video part 1
video part 2
Event Program

On May 20, 2007, the Center hosted a community forum on “Access to Care: the Critical Conundrum”, addressing the serious issue of access for the uninsured and underinsured.  The forum was co-sponsored by the Duval County Medical Society and the Florida Medical Association. 

Welcoming remarks were made by Yank D. Coble, Jr., MD, MACE, MACP, Director, UNF Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy; and John M. Montgomery, MD, MPH, President, Duval County Medical Society.  
In the Plenary Session, National to State Perspectives:  William G. Plested, III, MD, President, American Medical Association,  addressed The National Approach to Access to Care & Health System Reform.   Patrick M.J. Hutton, MD, MBA, President, Florida Medical Association, addressed The State Approach to Access to Care & Health System Reform.  Robert Brooks, MD, MBA, FSU College of Medicine, Associate Dean for Health Affairs; Former Secretary, Florida Department of Health, addressed Government Role & Public Health Aspects of Access to Care.

The second session of the forum presented Access to Care: The Local Reality.    Floyd B. Willis, MD, Past President, Duval County Medical Society, moderated Panel 1, which addressed The Impact on Outpatient Care.  Panelists included: Sister DeSales Wisniewski, President, We Care Jacksonville;  James Borland, MD, CMO, VA Clinic Jacksonville; Jim Burt, MD, Medical Director, Volunteers in Medicine;  Robert Harmon, MD, Director, Duval County Health Dept.; Rhonda Davis Poirier, Dr. of P.H., CEO & President, JaxCare;  and Anne Waldron, MD, Secretary,Duval County Medical Society.

Panel 2 addressed The Impact on Area Hospitals / Institutions.  Pamela Chally, RN, PhD, Dean, University of North Florida College of Health, moderated the panel.  Panelists included Keith Stein, MD,CMO, Baptist Health; Angela Martin, MD, CMO, Memorial Health; Captain Raquel Bono, MC, USN, Commanding Officer, Navy Hospital Jacksonville;  Floyd B. Willis, MD, St. Luke’s Hospital / Mayo Clinic;  Phil Perry, MD, CMO, St. Vincent’s Healthcare;  and Mark Hudak, MD, Assistant Dean of Managed Care, UF & Shands.
Extensive participation of local health and medical professionals and institutions added to the success of this forum.
The video of the Access Forum is available at the Center.

The Caring Community Conference
Sept. 26 - 28, 2007
view CCC Brochure

The Caring Community Conference (CCC) was held September 26 – 28, 2007, to address serious health issues, evaluate community assets and make recommendations to enhance the individual and economic health of the region. Twenty-one local health and medical care leaders participated as panelists, each tasked with proposing two recommendations most likely to improve the individual and economic health of our community.  After the panel discussions, conference
participants divided into five breakout sessions to further consider and consolidate recommendations, with the goal of creating and prioritizing five top recommendations per group.  On the final day of the conference, the full assembly discussed and voted on the recommendations, resulting in the list of twelve below.

Caring Community Conference:  Twelve Recommendations

1. Improve Access to Care (uninsured and under-insured, etc.)
2. Increase Funding for Healthcare, Bioscience, and Education (new and old; public and private)
3. Advance Health Information Technology (HIT) for the Region (including electronic medical records and interoperability)                                               
4. Increase Medical Residencies                                       
5. Reduce Health Disparities and Inequities                                   
6. Promote Wellness/Health                                                          
7. Foster Collaboration Among Institutions relating to Patient Care, Research, Education, Public Health, Quality, Safety, Efficiency, and Reduction of Barriers    
8. Establish a Regional Bioscience Institute in Jacksonville
9. Establish a Regional Medical School in Jacksonville                              
10. Establish a Northeast Florida Bioscience Campus to support Business Incubation
11. Develop a Public Education Pipeline for Bioscience (middle school through university)
12. Create a Branded Economic Corridor between Jacksonville and Gainesville

 
Participants voted “to Create a Healthcare and Bioscience Council” as the essential first step for implementing the recommendations.  A Steering Committee is now engaged  in the formation of the Healthcare and Bioscience Council. 

Local public broadcasting station WJCT videotaped the entire CCC and broadcast the conference in its (near) entirety on Nov. 20 and 21, 2007.  The eight hour edited video of the conference is available at the Center.

More information on the Caring Community Conference

Caring Community Conference Public Forum, Nov. 27, 2007
Broadcast on Jan. 6, 2008
video

On Nov. 27th, 2007, the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy and WJCT Public Broadcasting hosted a Public Forum, to discuss the recommendations resulting from the CARING COMMUNITY CONFERENCE.  A reception was held at 6:00 pm at WJCT Studios, followed by the Public Forum at 7:00 pm. 

The forum began with a videotaped presentation featuring UNF President John Delaney and Center Champion, Mr. T. O’Neal Douglas, explaining the origin of the Center and its relationship with the University of North Florida.  Dr. Yank Coble, Center Director, gave welcoming remarks and a summary presentation of the Caring Community Conference.  Three Panel Discussions followed.  The evening concluded with a Question and Answer period, in which audience members were encouraged to share suggestions.   The program was recorded for television broadcasting at noon on January 6th, 2008.

Panel 1:  Health and Medical Care

• Hugh Greene, President and CEO, Baptist Health
• John Montgomery, MD, President, Duval County Medical Society; VP for Professional Relations, BCBS of FL
• Paul Pitel, MD, Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Associate Medical Director of Nemours Children’s Clinic

Panel 2:  Education

• James Borland, MD, Associate Chief of Staff for Outpatient Clinics, North Florida  South Georgia Veterans Health System
• Pamela Chally, PhD, Dean of the Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida
• Robert Nuss, MD, Dean of the Regional Campus, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville

Panel 3:  Research and Industry

• Thomas Brott, MD, Director for Research and Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
• Michael Koren, MD, Director, Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research; Founder, Encore Research Group
• Art Wotiz, Chair, Chamber of Commerce Life Science Committee; President/CEO, NovaBone Products, LLC

This public forum and its January 6, noon television broadcast provided opportunities for the community at large to share in the discussion of the CARING COMMUNITY CONFERENCE recommendations.  We hope to raise awareness of the issues and assets in our healthcare and bioscience community, and to build broad-based understanding of and support for the vision, goals, and recommendations of the CARING COMMUNITY CONFERENCE.

At the conclusion of the forum, a Steering Committee was announced, to initiate the Healthcare and Bioscience Council.  Members are Carl Cannon, Yank Coble, Luther Coggin, Marshall Criser, O’Neal Douglas, Lawrence DuBow, Preston Haskell, Carol Thompson, and Jim Winston.  Ex-officio members include John Delaney, Mayor John Peyton, and The Honorable Fred Schultz.

The Caring Community Conference Update April 29, 2008 video part 1 video part 2 event program The Caring Community Conference generated a great deal of community interest in improving the individual and economic health of northeast Florida.  The Center was pleased to host the Caring Community Conference Update on April 29, 2008, to share with the community the work that has been accomplished in the post-conference months, including the work of the Steering Committee to form the Healthcare and Bioscience Council.

The formation of the Healthcare and Bioscience Council was the No. 1 priority and “essential next step” resulting from the Caring Community Conference.  Founding members of that Council were announced at the Update. Council members include: Susan Black, Carl Cannon, Mike Cascone, Yank Coble, Luther Coggin, Marshall Criser, T. O’Neal Douglas, Lawrence DuBow, Hugh Greene, Bob Harmon, Preston Haskell, Adam Herbert, Mac McGriff, Carol Thompson, Floyd Willis, Jim Winston, Art Wotiz.  Ex-Officio Members include:  President John Delaney, UNF; Mayor John Peyton; and The Honorable Fred Schultz.

UPDATE AGENDA

Welcome
Mark E. Workman, PhD
 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, UNF

Honorable Fred Schultz
Honorary Chair, Caring Community Conference

Caring Community Conference Update
Yank D. Coble, MD
 Director, Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy

Steering Committee Report
Carol Thompson
 Chair, Steering Committee to form the Healthcare and Bioscience Council

Research and Medical Education Funding in Florida
Marshall Criser
Past President, University of Florida

UF & Shands Urban Campus
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton

Discussion

More information on the Caring Community Conference Update

The Global Medicine and Public Health Initiative, May 20, 2008
Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases: Addressing the Epidemic through Science, Fitness and Behavior Modification
video: First Plenary Session
video: Second Plenary Session
Summary

The Global Medicine and Public Health Initiative was held on May 20, 2008 at the University of North Florida University Center. This event was co-hosted by the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy, the Duval County
Medical Society, and the Duval County Health Department. The forum focused on the growing challenges of
obesity and other non-communicable diseases.

Welcoming remarks were made, and the program was introduced by Dr. Yank Coble, Director of the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy, and Dr. Glenn Knox, President of the Duval County Medical Society.

The First Plenary Session was moderated by Dr. John Montgomery, Immediate Past President of the Duval County Medical Society.
The first presentation was given by Dr. Jeremy Lazarus, Speaker of the House for the American Medical Association. Dr. Lazarus presented AMA Perspectives on Analyzing and Understanding the Epidemic.
Following Dr. Lazarus' presentation, Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, presented Global Initiatives Regarding the Epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases. view Dr. Benjamin's presentation
The final presentation in the first plenary session was made by Dr. Robert Brooks, Associate Dean for Health Affairs at the Florida State University College of Medicine, and Former Secretary of the Florida Dept. of Health. Dr. Brooks presented Academic and State Perspectives: Training Healthcare Professionals to Address the Epidemic. view Dr. Brook's presentation
Panel discussion and Q&A followed.
The Second Plenary Session was moderated by Dr. Pamela Chally, Dean of the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida. The first presentation was made by Dr. Judy Perkin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health, at the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida. Dr. Perkin presented The Obesity Epidemic: A Socio-Cultural Perspective on Causation and Prevention. view Dr. Perkin's presentation
The second presentation was made by Dr. Robert Harmon, Director of the Duval County Health Department. Dr. Harmon presented Public Health and Local Community Perspectives. view Dr. Harmon's presentation
The final presentation was made by Dr. Donald George, Pediatrician at Nemours Clinic, and Co-Chair of the Duval County Health Department Childhood Obesity Prevention Policy Development Workgroup. Dr. George presented Fostering a Healthy Beginning for Healthy Living, the Medical Perspective. view Dr. George's presentation
Panel discussion and Q & A followed.  Dr. Coble adjourned the forum.
The forum was attended by over 100 healthcare and medical professionals, educators, and students. CME credit was offered (3.25 credits) for physicians.