Atlanta has been a city of visionaries. In human rights, global commerce, air travel and logistics, it has been blessed with great leadership and bold risk-takers. Robert W. Woodruff, legendary leader of the Coca-Cola Co., had another great civic vision. He wanted Atlanta to be the home of world-class medical facilities. His initial strategic investments in the health-care complex at Emory University, and subsequent philanthropy made through the foundation that bears his name, enabled Atlanta to become a world-leading medical and bioscience center.
The legacy continued with gifts of land and structures that brought the Centers for Disease Control and CARE USA to Atlanta. In tandem, the Carter Center began efforts to address the most acute diseases in some of the world’s most vulnerable places.
With this cluster of health-related assets in place, the success of the various research and practitioner organizations and institutions engendered an array of life science and medical technology companies and a related set of specialized non-profit initiatives.
The Georgia Research Alliance was created to foster cutting-edge research and attract world-leading researchers. Emory, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Georgia State and other institutions began to seek connections with one another and with the CDC, CARE and other non-profits to engage in research initiatives and projects in global health. To this powerful constellation, the Task Force for Global Health emerged as one of the most powerful coordinators of global health delivery in the world.
Collaboration, often among diverse organizations, completes the triad. Atlanta’s global health institutions have kindled a range of strategic collaborations and partnerships, accelerating and scaling up research and delivery of global health solutions by combining the resources of our universities, government entities, non-profits and corporations. CARE’s partnerships with Coca-Cola and UPS, for example, have combined expertise in global health, water and logistics to provide new cross-sector approaches to global health challenges.
For the past two years, leaders have gathered for an Atlanta Summit on Global Health. Organized by the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, CARE USA, and the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and keynoted by Sen. Johnny Isakson, the summits have emphasized our city’s huge role in making America the global health leader. The response has been overwhelming, with more than 350 people at both meetings.
Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA, CDC Director Tom Frieden, and a host of leaders from global health organizations, business and academia highlighted successes as well as challenges. In these summits, global health leaders were joined by experts from Coca-Cola, UPS, AGCO and Cargill.
This year’s summit brought the discussions to a world audience. Hundreds of tweet responses have been sent to the United Nations and Congress. These summits have underscored Atlanta’s unique and powerful approach to integrating global health, water, food security and nutrition. With continued vision and powerful connecting points among Atlanta’s organizations, we can build a healthier and more secure world. It can be done!
Wayne Lord is president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.
