Dear Friends:

Thank you for visiting the National Health Museum.

Louis W. Sullivan, MD

Further evidence was released last month that shows our nation to be failing at a critical task. According to the ACT college entrance exam, only 26% of the graduating high school seniors in the United States who took the 2003 ACT college entrance exams are adequately prepared for college biology. In other words, only about a quarter of this year's college-bound youth are likely to muster a "C" or higher in their freshman biology course.

There is no easy explanation or quick remedy for this reality. What is certain, though, is that we can and we must do better. The United States leads the world in our biomedical enterprise. We have the best scientists, invest the most dollars to discover new knowledge, and have a vibrant private sector research and development sector that is at the forefront of innovation in new medical devices, pharmaceuticals and improved therapies. The global gains made in average life expectancy over the past century are owed in no small part to scientific skills developed and nurtured in our schools and laboratories.

But, symbolically and functionally, we are placing our nation's leadership in peril by not adequately supporting health science literacy. A trip to our nation's capital and a survey of its cultural institutions provides evidence of this, while also revealing an opportunity. Each year, national museums in Washington, DC, draw some 25 million visitors. A large percentage of these visitors are young people arriving in families or schools from across the nation. Going from museum to monument, they learn about the wonders of aviation, the courage of our pioneers, and the creations of our gifted artists. Many leave the Air and Space Museum inspired by the story of Sally Ride to consider a career as an astronaut. Others visit the Capitol and ponder a life of public service.

But where is the story of Jonas Salk? No child can learn about blood bank pioneer Charles Drew and not be inspired to think, I, too, can better the world. How can their visit to the nation's capital be complete without a glimpse of the human genome? Why are they encouraged to use their talents as an astronaut or statesman, but not as a biological researcher, medical epidemiologist, cardiovascular surgeon or nurse practitioner?

This is about to change. A group of committed Americans is working to create the National Health Museum, a place of learning devoted to inspiring the next generation of life scientists and health professionals. This unique museum will employ educational media technologies and informal learning strategies that will bring the health sciences to life for a wide audience. Its future home in Washington will include state-of-the-art exhibits and programs, as well as classroom facilities for visiting groups. Its global conference center will include a forum to bring together scientists, policy makers, and consumers for dialogue and announcements of medical breakthroughs.

The public value of locating such an institution in our nation's capital will be enormous. But the Museum is already reaching far beyond Washington by disseminating Web-based teaching tools to increase science literacy. Its award-winning Web site for health and life science teachers, Access Excellence @ The National Health Museum, averages a monthly audience of more than 650,000 visitors and nearly 5.8 million "hits." As the Museum's facility takes shape, this Web presence will be expanded to achieve rich educational synergies between the Museum's "real" and "virtual" learning venues.

A strong coalition of supporters has organized behind the National Health Museum and is working to secure a prominent site. Joined in this effort are leading philanthropies including The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; groups such as the American Medical Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers; corporate benefactors including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck; and modern day pioneers such as renowned scientist William Haseltine and former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

In 1990, I announced the launch of the Human Genome Project, an endeavor that was expected to be a 15-year, $3 billion effort. Instead, the goal was achieved in 10 years and was substantially under budget. The powerful body information that was acquired is now revolutionizing our understanding of health and human biology.

We must proceed with similar dedication to assure our nation's continued leadership in the life sciences. A National Health Museum can contribute mightily to this goal. We must move quickly and with resolve. We owe future generations of Americans nothing less.

Sincerely,

Louis W. Sullivan, MD
Chairman
National Health Museum