Governor Perdue announces Georgia selected as home for new National Health Museum

Institution adds to Georgia’s growing stature as crossroads of global health

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Georgia will be home to the new National Health Museum (NHM).  The museum, which will be located in downtown Atlanta, is expected to bring 135 jobs and approximately $230 million in initial investment to the state and add to Georgia’s growing list of unique and interactive attractions.

“The National Health Museum will give Georgians and visitors alike the opportunity to understand and experience the revolutions in health sciences that are helping people across the world live healthier lives,” said Governor Perdue. “The museum, combined with other Georgia-based institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society, cements Georgia’s position as the crossroads of global health in the 21^st century.”

The Governor spoke from the Georgia Pavilion at the 2008 BIO International Convention, the world’s leading conference and exhibition for the biosciences community.

NHM will be a 21st century science-based attraction with the mission of inspiring Americans to live healthier lives through access to knowledge and themed exhibits focused on the life sciences.

The physical museum will deliver health-related content and experiences to millions of visitors, inspire America’s next generation of caregivers and life scientists and help the nation remain at the forefront of health discovery, technology, practice and care.

The museum will be funded by a combination of personal, corporate, foundation and government contributors. NHM has secured more than $12 million to operate current educational programs, build an online CyberMuseum and plan for the physical museum.

NHM has the active support of every major sector of the health community and the endorsements of more than 150 major health and medical organizations.

The NHM board, which includes corporate, association and public service leaders from the healthcare community, is chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and President Emeritus of Morehouse School of Medicine Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.  The founding chairman is the former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., who now serves as Chairman Emeritus. 

“The National Health Museum is an unprecedented global enterprise that will share health-related information and experiences with hundreds of millions of people,” Dr. Sullivan said.  “Visitors to the National Health Museum will acquire a profound personal appreciation for the benefits of good health and find themselves at the center of their own transformative experiences.”

The Coca-Cola Company, which has long been a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Atlanta, played an instrumental role in recruiting the National Health Museum, donating $1 million in seed funding to help support the museum’s development in Atlanta. The company also supports the museum’s commitment to building healthy lifestyles, which dovetails with its support of nutrition education and programs that encourage and promote active living.

The National Health Museum estimates that it will attract between 1.1 million and 1.4 million annual visitors to a location in downtown Atlanta, near Centennial Olympic Park. The National Health Museum Board of Trustees is currently considering several site opportunities in this dynamic neighborhood, which is home to a variety of highly popular visitor attractions. The museum will also help Atlanta draw health-related conferences and conventions to Georgia.

             “We are very enthusiastic about helping the National Health Museum locate to Atlanta, as we believe it will be a great addition to downtown's cultural and educational resources,” said Muhtar Kent, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Coca-Cola Company.  “The museum’s goal of presenting health, nutrition and physical education in a fun and engaging way is consistent with our company and bottlers’ ongoing efforts to do all we can to promote healthy, active lifestyles.”

Additional organizations, corporations and individuals who have provided support to enable the National Health Museum’s location in Atlanta include Emory Healthcare; Kaiser Permanente Georgia; Northrop Grumman; the CDC Foundation; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Dr. David J. Allen and Associates; CardioMEMS; and Frank and Joyce Hauser.

The facility is being designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who also designed the Jepson Center for the Arts in Savannah, Ga., the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo. Experiences and exhibits will be created by BRC Imagination Arts, one of the world’s leading designers of museum exhibits and themed entertainment.  

For more information on the National Health Museum visit http://www.nationalhealthmuseum.org .

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