World Affairs Council, UNF Bring HOPE to Jacksonville

In view of the rapid growth and remarkably successful track record of Jacksonville ’s World Affairs Council in recent years, it seemed reasonable to forecast a period of relative calm.  The Council would polish the Best Small Council trophy awarded to it by the national organization, lionize its outgoing President, Amb. Marilyn McAfee, and cruise along on its laurels for a few years.

Evidently WAC’s new President, Adm. Jon Howe, and other current WAC leaders do not see it that way.  Rather, growth and outreach have continued, this time via a partnership forged during their watch between WAC and the University of North Florida ’s newly created Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy. 

The Center’s mission is to promote global understanding and collaborative action to enhance health and medical care.  It will seek solutions through science, ethics and caring.  The theme “global understanding” characterizes both WAC and the Center, portending a successful partnership.     

Just as WAC President, Adm. Jon Howe earned four stars during his distinguished career with the U.S. Navy, The Center’s Director, Yank D. Coble Jr., MD, has earned distinction throughout his career within the worldwide medical community.  In addition to his current position with The Center and related university professorships, he is past president of The World Medical Association (WMA) and chair and editor of the WMA Caring Physicians of the World Initiative.  He does not accomplish all this from behind his desk: Over the past two years, he has chaired regional meetings of national medical associations in Johannesburg , Santiago , Shanghai , Chennai (formerly Madras ), Bangkok , Prague , Amelia Island, Fla., and Tokyo .  Dr. Coble is also known to be a very popular and constructive member of Jacksonville ’s civic community, holding numerous leadership positions over the years.  

February 26 at UNF’s University Center marked at once The Center’s inaugural forum and its first joint venture event with WAC.  Dr. Coble competently introduced the guest speaker, Dr. John P. Howe III (no relation), President and CEO of Project HOPE.  Before assuming that role in 2001, Dr. Howe’s impressive resume included a 15-year stint as CEO of the multi-faceted University of Texas Health Science Center.  Dr. Howe addressed “Global Health and Medical Diplomacy: Quiet Advocacy” before an audience of over 500, including members of the two sponsoring organizations, UNF students and members of the general public.  The affable Dr. Howe used a very effective power point presentation to illustrate how Project Hope accomplishes its stated mission: To achieve sustainable advances in health care around the world by implementing health education programs and providing humanitarian assistance in areas of need. 

Project HOPE has been on this mission since Ike was in the White House in 1958.  Today, Project HOPE’s work includes educating health professionals and volunteers, providing medicines and supplies, strengthening health facilities, training community health workers, and fighting communicable diseases in 34 countries.  Children are a particular focus.  Dr. Howe power-pointed out the huge hospital ship HOPE, “the seventh largest hospital in the U.S. ,” which carries medical relief to the four corners of the world. As the organization’s website says, “It’s in our name: Health Opportunities for People Everywhere.” 

A major success illustrated by Dr. Howe was the relief work Project HOPE performed following the Tsunami that devastated many areas of Asia in December, 2004.  Among Project HOPE’s allies at the command center at Banda Aceh , Indonesia were the U.S. Navy and a host of American doctors who volunteered their services.  One particularly interesting graph showed the resulting dramatic improvement in the global public’s perception of the United States – “medical diplomacy,” if you will, delivered with boots on the ground and hearts in the right place. 

As his remarks flowed smoothly into the Q&A, Dr. Howe pointed to a gentleman in the audience who had evidently asked him a question at the pre-lecture reception and said, “Mr. Harrell, did I address the issue you raised earlier this evening”?  Apparently the point Mr. Harrell raised was particularly interesting.  And apparently Dr. Howe has phenomenal recall and takes a genuine interest in the concerns of the people he meets.       

Lastly and importantly, the event was supported by Mr. and Mrs. T. O’Neal Douglas.

-Samuel F. Heffner III

Board of Directors

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville

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