National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
About NAPH
About Our Members
Governance
Staff
Careers
Safety Net Awards
Our Work
Funding the Safety Net
Enhancing Care Delivery
Improving Quality
Health Reform Implementation
Health Care Disparities
Fair Pharmaceutical Pricing
Emergency Preparedness
Calendar
Full List of Upcoming Events
Conference Calls/Webinars
In-Person Events
Presentations from Prior Events
Newsroom
Media Contact
2010 Press Releases
2009 Press Releases
Photos and Videos
2010 NAPH Radio Media Tour
Publications
Quality
Emergency Preparedness
Chronic Conditions
Disparities
Safety Net Financing
Annual Conference
Tell Us Your Story
Login
How to Join
Contact Us
Site Map
Home
Newsroom
Welcome
Americas Doc Sets Bold Agenda
America's Doc Sets Bold Agenda
Last week, I had the distinct honor and privilege to meet and chat—albeit briefly—with
U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin
after her very heartfelt presentation at the annual
Health Academy Conference of the Public Relations Society of America
.
To briefly recap her presentation, what struck me most was her sincerity and authenticity. For many years, she was a family doctor, practicing in rural Bayou La Batre, Alabama (population roughly 2,700 in 2005). Dr. Benjamin shared touching stories of caring for patients in this small fishing village that offered a glimpse into why “America’s Doc” is so passionate about transforming our current health care delivery system from a “sick care model to one focused on prevention and wellness,” as she so enthusiastically proclaimed.
Benjamin said that she has, “opened a practice in DC to communicate health and wellness to all Americans.” First up to bat—obesity. Benjamin is calling out obesity as a public health issue, and in particular wants to start by solving the problem of childhood obesity within one generation.
According to Benjamin, prevention and wellness is the key—there is no pill, there is no quick fix; requiring a complete transformation in how we think. “A prescription pad cannot solve this problem.”
Other targets for Benjamin: tobacco use/smoking cessation, HIV/AIDS, violence, mental health and substance abuse, medication adherence and reducing health disparities. Ambitious agenda to say the least, but something tells me, not too tall an order for this doc. Just read her
bio
, she accomplished more before the age of 40 than many in their entire careers!
Now, back to that sidebar chat…
I would be remiss if I had not taken the opportunity to mention to Dr. Benjamin all of the innovative programs that safety net hospitals and health systems have currently underway in each of the priority areas she identified. I let her know that we stand ready to be true partners with her as she looks for real world, best practice models that can be reported on and emulated nationwide. From the
University of Kansas Medical Center’s “Healthy Hawks”
adolescent obesity program,
San Francisco General Hospital’s Wraparound Project
to
Hurley Medical Center’s VIP: Violence/Trauma Intervention Program
. I only had her ear for just a moment, but these few examples of obesity, substance abuse/mental health and violence prevention efforts being spearheaded at safety net hospitals seem to be just what the doctor ordered – and we know all know, there’s plenty more! Got an innovative program that you’d like to share with Surgeon General? Feel free to
send it my way
! What do you think of her agenda?
This Post does not have any comments.
Add a new Comment
Explore
Research
Advocate
Collaborate