by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Members of Meninak have long advocated “lending help where none is available,” especially to the youth in the community, and Monday they heard from another advocate who has helped children in his career as a pediatric surgeon and beyond.
“Those of you who are parents know how special pediatricians are,” said former Meninak President Bill Birchfield, during his introduction of Dr. Albert Wilkinson to the crowd.
Wilkinson, longtime area pediatric surgeon, children’s health and hospital champion and author of “Children First: An Inside Look at the Growing Changes in Children’s Healthcare and Hospitals,” spoke to Meninak on two of his favorite subjects: the history of children’s hospitals and children’s healthcare.
“It’s the true passion of my life, children’s hospitals and children’s health,” said Wilkinson.
Wilkinson noted the rise of children’s hospitals in Jacksonville throughout the 1900s including the first, Hope Haven, and the process and efforts between hospitals that made the City a regional childcare health center.
“Leadership and cooperation,” he said. “Both were extremely important.”
His book, “Children First,” portrays the City’s development of a full-service children’s healthcare facility.
To maintain and improve children’s hospitals and health, he noted that it will take effort from the local, state and federal level, something that’s “essential” to its success.
When asked what some of the changes in children’s healthcare have been in his career, Wilkinson was quick to point out how specialized child medicine has become.
“The evolution of subspecialty care,” he said, in response. “Back then, we (pediatric doctors) did it all, but today most care is done by pediatric sub specialists.”
Another member inquired about Wilkinson’s opinion on if children were healthier today than in the past.
“Some are, some aren’t,” he initially responded, eliciting laughs.
He noted the eradication of polio, the rise of antibiotics and vaccinations and the creation of neonatal intensive care units as evidence that children’s healthcare has evolved.
He still has concerns regarding the state of the industry, especially insurance rates among children and families.
“The support of children’s hospitals and children’s health in general,” he responded, when asked about his No. 1 concern. “There are a large number of uninsured families and children ... those who are just above the poverty line. We need to cover children(medically).”
When asked of the future of the profession in light of government talks of a universal health care system, Wilkinson said he was concerned about the number of medical school admissions along with the compensation levels pediatric doctors receive in relation to accrued medical education debt.
Wilkinson wasn’t the only pediatric professional in attendance at Meninak. Several Northeast Florida longtime pediatric pioneers including Dr. Jim Cousar; Dr. Jim Townsend, Dr. Paul Hudgins; Dr. Richard Skinner; Dr. C.B. McIntosh; Dr. Jim Lanier; and Larry Freeman, Wolfson Children’s Hospital administrator, all attended to hear Wilkinson address the crowd on child healthcare.
“It’s amazing the amount of child healthcare history that is in the room,” said Meninak President Harrison Conyers, during Monday’s meeting. “These doctors really made a difference in the lives of countless children in their careers.”
Monday’s Meninak meeting was also a business matter, as members voted on the election of new officials.
On the ballot for president-elect was Kent Lindsey of Lindsey Films, while Meninak board of directors candidates included Phil Ghiotto of Ghiotto & Associates; George Good, Mike Grogan of Allen, Norton & Blue; Judy Law of Prudential Network Realty; Dawn Motes of Marietta Sand Corp.; and John Thompson of Forbes-Thompson Investment.
Three new board of directors members will be elected, with results coming later in the week.
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