[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mayors Initiative on Medical Tourism

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mayors Office
(573) 874-7207

Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
(573) 875-1231

Community Relations
Steven Sapp
(573) 874-7257

Mayors Initiative on Medical Tourism

COLUMBIA, MO (August 31, 2016) - On Wednesday, Aug. 31, City of Columbia Mayor Brian Treece announced the formation of a Mayor's Task Force on Medical Tourism designed to position Columbia as a destination medical center in the Midwest and United States. Â 

"Health care is a major component of Columbia's growing economy," said Treece. Â "Creating the necessary infrastructure to support continued growth of Columbia's health care providers and optimize the patient experience in Columbia is a top priority of mine."

Treece is appointing professionals to the task force with a wide range of experience in medicine, travel and tourism. The staff liaison will be a staff member of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau which is directed by Amy Schneider.

"I am proud to appoint the first-ever panel of Columbia's healthcare and hospitality leaders and charge them to develop a comprehensive plan to support a destination medical city," said Treece. Â "I want to thank the City Council for their unanimous support of this important initiative."

The task force will make recommendations on:

*Marketing Columbia's key subspecialty medicine areas for destination services.

*Airport improvements such as additional routes and terminal enhancements to improve patient access.

*Public transportation enhancements such as special needs shuttles and accessible vans.

*Hotel and short-term housing options with coordination between hospital schedulers and hotels.

*Workforce development strategies for new health care jobs.
 

Treece has appointed a steering committee of health care, travel and hospitality leaders including:

*Guy Collier-A Columbia residents and nationally-recognized attorney specializing in nonprofit hospitals and health systems, Collier devotes a substantial portion of his Washington, D.C. practice to provider affiliations between academic medical centers and health systems. Â Collier will chair the Mayor's Task Force on Medical Tourism.

*Jonathan W. Curtright-Prior to serving as Chief Operating Officer of University of Missouri Healthcare, Curtright served as an administrator of several departments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Â 

*Kate Pitzer-In-house legal counsel for Boone Hospital.

*Vivek Puri-Vice president and general counsel of Hilton Garden Inn and the Holiday Inn Express in Columbia.

*Gene Austin-CEO of Columbia Orthopaedic Group.

*David Parmely-Owner of the Hampton Inn & Suites at the University of Missouri and The Broadway Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton.

*James Cook, DVM, Ph.D.- James Cook is the director of operations for the Mizzou BioJoint Center after more than 18 years as a veterinary surgeon at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

* Kevin Staveley O'Carroll - Director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, which is part of University of Missouri Health Care. O'Carroll is a leading cancer researcher and surgeon.



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