Association of Academic Health Centers Establishes Biodefense Council; Highlights Commitment to Protecting Communities Nationwide 11/20/2002
From: Elaine R. Rubin of the Association of Academic Health Centers, 202-265-9600 WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Association of Academic Health Centers (AHC) has established a Biodefense Council to explore how academic health centers can help protect against bioterrorism. Comprising 12 current and former chief executive officers of academic health centers nationwide, the Council will examine how academic health centers are participating in the development and operation of defenses against bioterroism and other defense related threats. To determine the roles and responsibilities for these institutions, council members will be analyzing potential options for the future, including collaboration in a biodefense network. Heading the council is Gregory Eastwood, MD, president of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, and past chairman of the association's Board of Directors. Biodefense activities were initiated by Dr. Eastwood who took office as chairman of the board soon after September 11. The association has also appointed C. McCollister Evarts, MD, former vice president for health affairs at The Pennsylvania State University, to be AHC's new Senior Fellow for Biodefense. "I am pleased that so many academic health center leaders will be engaging in this strategic planning effort to address critical national concerns. Academic health center leaders bring a wide range of expertise and experience in emergency preparedness issues that will make an invaluable contribution to policies and practices that will affect the health and well being of the entire nation," said Roger J. Bulger, MD, president of the AHC. "Biodefense is a priority issue for the Board of Directors; the Council is an outgrowth of our post-September 11 actions and highlights our commitment to protecting the nation's health and well being in the many realms of academic health center responsibilities," added Dr. Eastwood. The Association of Academic Health Centers is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of the people by advancing the leadership of academic health centers in health professions education, biomedical and health services research, and health care delivery. --- Association of Academic Health Centers Biodefense Council Ronald R. Blanck, DO President University of North Texas Health Science Center at Forth Worth Frank Cerra, MD Senior Vice President for Health Science University of Minnesota Gregory L. Eastwood, MD (Chairman) President State University of New York Upstate Medical University C. McCollister Evarts, MD Senior Fellow for Biodefense Association of Academic Health Centers Donald F. Hagen, MD Executive Vice Chancellor University of Kansas James W. Holsinger, Jr., MD, PhD Chancellor of the Medical Center University of Kentucky Michael M.E. Johns, MD Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Chairman and CEO, Emory Healthcare Director, Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Emory University Harold M. Maurer, MD Chancellor University of Nebraska Medical Center David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil President University of Maryland, Baltimore Barbara Ross-Lee, DO Vice President, Health Sciences and Medical Affairs Dean, College of Medicine New York Institute of Technology Jay H. Stein, MD Senior Vice President and Vice Provost for Health Affairs Medical Center and Strong Health System CEO University of Rochester Medical Center James A. Zimble, MD President Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Ex Officio: Andrew Deubler Associate Vice President University of Rochester Medical Center |