The Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health (DFWBGH) hosted The Symphony of Health Care Delivery: A Strategy for Transforming the U.S. Health Care System, bringing together former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis W. Sullivan and former Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services Dr. Eduardo Sanchez.
Dr. Sullivan focused on the need to increase openness and awareness of research on cost and quality-driven health outcomes, stating that doctors, patients, and other interested parties should be directly involved in the generation of research and the evaluation of findings. He emphasized the value of communicating health information in ways that are understandable to all stakeholders in a fair and professionally balanced manner. Additionally, he presented examples of several Dallas-Fort Worth innovative companies that have adopted value-based benefits design strategies, prioritizing patient health while containing health care costs.
Dr. Sanchez identified the goal of health care reform as optimal health, highlighting the importance of preventive services. He referenced his Partnership for Prevention report, "Preventive Care: A National Profile on Use, Disparities and Health Benefits," providing an overview of the key preventive services that have the potential to save more than 100,000 lives annually. Dr. Sanchez underscored the importance of making the best use of health information technology to deliver these cost-effective and beneficial clinical services.
The program is supported by Pfizer Inc.
Bio
Eduardo J. Sanchez
Eduardo J. Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H is the Director of the Institute for Health Policy at The University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Sanchez served as Commissioner of the Texas Department Health from November 2001 through August 2004, overseeing an array of programs from disease prevention, communicable disease control, and preparedness to environmental and consumer safety as well as regulatory services.
On September 1, 2004, he became Commissioner of the newly formed Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), which combined public health, mental health and substance abuse. He served as Commissioner of DSHS until October 2006.
Sanchez was in active family medicine practice in Austin, Texas from 1992 to 2001. In addition, he served as health authority and chief medical officer for the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department from 1994 to 1998. He played a critical role in helping to create the Texas Association of Local Health Officials in 1997.
He received his medical degree in 1988 from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and holds master's degrees in public health from the UT School of Public Health and in biomedical engineering from Duke University. He also has bachelor's degrees from Boston University in biomedical engineering and chemistry.
The American Academy of Family Physicians presented Dr. Sanchez with the 2005 Public Health Award for his contributions to public health in Texas and beyond. He also received the Louis B. Russell Memorial Award, in 2004, from the American Heart Association for outstanding service to minority populations.
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan
In 1975, Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., was the founding Dean and first President of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). With the exception of his tenure as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 1989 to 1993, Dr. Sullivan was President of MSM for more than two decades. On July 1, 2002, he retired from the presidency, but continues to support MSM, assisting in national fund-raising activities on behalf of the school.
A native of Atlanta, Dr. Sullivan graduated magna cum laude from Morehouse College in 1954, and earned his medical degree, cum laude, from Boston University School of Medicine in 1958. He is certified in internal medicine and hematology.
Dr. Sullivan was an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School from 1963-64, and assistant professor of medicine at Seton Hall College of Medicine from 1964-65. In 1966, he became co-director of hematology at Boston University Medical Center and, a year later, founded the Boston University Hematology Service at Boston City Hospital. Dr. Sullivan joined the Boston University School of Medicine in 1966 and remained until 1975, holding positions as assistant professor of medicine, associate professor of medicine, and professor of medicine.
In 1989, Dr. Sullivan accepted an appointment by President George H.W. Bush to head HHS. Dr. Sullivan was responsible for the major health, welfare, food and drug safety, medical research and income security programs serving the American people. In January 1993, he returned to MSM as president.
Dr. Sullivan is Chairman of the board of the National Health Museum in Washington, D.C. and is Chairman of the Sullivan Alliance on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce. He serves as Chair of the President's Commission on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and was Co-Chair of the President's Commission on HIV and AIDS from 2001 to 2006.