Humanitarian Hero's - Article 1

Humanitarian Heroes

James L. Cox, M.D.

President and CEO

The World Heart Foundation

This is the inaugural installment of a new section of CTSNet that is designed to recognize some extraordinary individuals who expend exceptional and frequently unnoticed efforts towards improving the delivery of cardiac surgery to all areas of the world. The first article highlights two key members of Children’s HeartLink, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota is one of the oldest and largest of the World Heart Foundation Affiliate Organizations.

 

John Cushing, MHA

Director of International Programs

Children’s HeartLink

Minneapolis , Minnesota

 

 

John became active in health services provision after receiving a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1967.  His commitment to international health evolved from an opportunity to study the Chinese health system in 1976.  In 1982, John accepted a four-year assignment with the Aga Khan Health System as Director of Professional Services.  Upon returning to the USA in 1987, John was hired to complete a feasibility study on a new program of Children’s Heart Fund that was called HeartLink.  In the early 90’s this program became the new approach of Children’s HeartLink.  John’s current responsibilities for Children’s HeartLink include the identification and implementation of new partner site relations, the assessment of site needs and priorities, and the securing of resources to address the needs of sites.  Over the past 19 years, his extensive experience with Children’s HeartLink has taken him to many underserved countries of the world.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Bickel, BS,

President, Children’s HeartLink

Minneapolis , Minnesota

 

 

 

Elizabeth joined Children's HeartLink as President in January 2003.  For many years, she served as a board member of the University Pediatric Foundation at the University of Minnesota .  This foundation is the primary source of fundraising for medical research in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota .  In 1990, she founded and continues to serve as a board member of the Minnesota PKU Foundation, a small foundation that supports families and patients living with phenylketonuria (PKU).  Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota School of Business.  Despite her long-standing commitment to the humanities, Elizabeth states that her most significant work in life has been raising her children, Madeleine and David.

Between 1988 and 2005, Children’s HeartLink participated in 39 missions to deliver cardiac surgical care in 19 different countries.  The organization is currently active at 10 sites in seven countries…China, India, Ukraine, Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia and Ecuador.  Children’s HeartLink, which had a budget of $1.7 million for the last fiscal year, has consistently endeavored to enhance the educational experience of local surgeons, nurses and other hospital personnel by offering more than 100 off-site training experiences and sponsoring numerous educational conferences throughout the world.  To date, over 1,500 patients have received cardiac surgery as a direct result of the involvemen