Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 26, 2008
Craig Schneider
Atlanta is on a short list of cities being considered for the first national health museum, said museum officials who visited the city Wednesday.
Dr. Louis Sullivan, an Atlanta resident and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, is leading the effort to establish a museum dedicated to celebrating great achievements in health care and inspiring the next generation of health professionals.
"We're talking to officials here in Georgia — the governor, the mayor, the Chamber of Commerce," Sullivan said. "We're really getting quite a positive response."
He added, "We have a lot to work out to see if this is economically feasible."
Sullivan is chairman of the board of the National Health Museum, which is choosing a site.
Mark Dunham, president of the organization, visited Atlanta Wednesday to explore the possibility. After a 10-month search, he said Atlanta remains in the running with Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Museum officials will announce a selection later this year, he said.
"We see Atlanta as having some wonderful assets," Dunham said.
The museum has hired the Atlanta consultant and law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge to assist the project.
Craig Lesser, a company consultant and former state economic development commissioner, said Atlanta is already home to some major health institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory Medical School, the American Cancer Society and Morehouse School of Medicine.
"Having the busiest airport in the country also helps," he said.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's office acknowledged that it has discussed the project with museum officials.
Sullivan said he hopes the museum will inform Americans about disease and health issues as it spurs them to improve their own health habits.
"I believe that while we have to reform the health care system, we really need to improve the health behavior of Americans," Sullivan said.