PBC A Partner in New Florida Public Health Institute

Commissioner Koons says FHCI meets a number of biotech, in-fill and educational objectives.

At a news conference on the campus of the A.G. Holley Hospital in Lantana, Commissioner Jeff Koons and officials from the Palm Beach County Health Department, Florida Atlantic University, the Quantum Foundation and the Town of Lantana, announced the establishment of the Florida Public Health Institute (FHCI). The nonprofit agency will work to bring government, academic and professional organizations together to address health care issues.

The institute’s main goals are to help keep locally trained medical professionals working in Palm Beach County, increase preventive health care outreach, reduce workforce health care costs, form long-term teaching partnerships with major universities, and set up more federally-qualified health centers. These facilities provide access to lower priced prescription drugs and malpractice coverage for health professionals, and are staffed by doctors and dentists affiliated with the National Health Services Corps.

FHCI will work hand in hand with FAU's public health care masters program. FHCI will also team with the Palm Beach County Health Care Alliance to develop a plan that ensures everyone eligible for any type of public health care assistance such as Medicaid, receives it.

The institute received a $1 million start-up grant from the Quantum Foundation.

FAU President Frank Brogan says the institute will work hand in hand with FAU's public health care masters program.	(l-r) FAU President Frank Brogan, Lantana Mayor Dave Stewart, Quantum Foundation President Paul Gionfriddo, Commissioner Jeff Koons, PBC Health Department Director Dr. Jean Malecki and FHCI Executive Director Dr. Claude Earl Fox.
	PBC Health Department Director Dr. Jean Malecki comments as Paul Gionfriddo of the Quantum Foundation looks on.