Former Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist was at the Hermitage Hotel this morning with about 30 Russian physicians and a cadre of Nashville’s health care and business leaders to promote global unity and attempt to solve public health and behavioral issues that lead to chronic diseases.
Frist said Russia faces many of the same health care dilemmas as Middle Tennessee.
“We do have the best health service infrastructure here in Middle Tennessee, so why not share it with the global community – a oneness of mankind?” said Frist, who prompted Sen. Lamar Alexander to send a request to Open World Leadership Center to host the health exchange. “Out of our commitment to global health, democracy, being the best in the health service delivery and using health as a currency for peace, we had the conference today. It will be a foundation for future exchanges.”
The Russian visitors started out with a tour of Vanderbilt University Medical Center this morning and listened to a presentation from an expert from Meharry Medical College on HIV/AIDS research.
Ralph Schulz, president of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, was on hand, as was Mayor Karl Dean.
“I am concerned most about this issue of obesity,” Dean said. “It’s going to be a battle that will be won or lost in the Southeast.”
Today’s events were hosted by the Nashville Health Care Council and Hope Through Healing Hands.