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Merle Mudd, PhD, Retired Executive Director of The Medical Foundation, Inc., Boston, and Former President of the Public Health Museum in Massachusetts, Tewksbury, MA.
Click on email address to send a message:
Merle@healtheclinic.org

Although I retired in 1989 after working forty years in health and welfare organizations, I didn't lose my interest in the problems of providing and delivering adequate health care to everyone needing it. I was among the lucky ones who could tap into Medicare and Social Security for help with health needs, and I was fortunate to live in urban centers with up to date medical facilities and well-trained health professionals. However, even in these areas there still are large numbers of people, of all ages, who are not getting the benefits of preventive, treatment and rehabilitation programs they need.

While we have been struggling to organize and strengthen the health programs and services in our country, the "globalization"of the world has increasingly brought to our attention the primitive or non-existing health services in many other countries throughout the world. Many U.S. government and voluntary organizations, as well as similar organizations from other countries, have contributed funds and resources in a variety of ways to improve health care. Unfortunately, many of these efforts were not effective or able to survive when the sponsoring organizations withdrew support and guidance. Often they failed because local groups, leaders, and individuals were not actively involved in the creation, development and survival of the health program and services, and making them their own.

Fortunately, there are growing numbers of individuals and organizations who are pioneering and testing new and exciting means and methods for helping the millions around the globe who have little or no healthcare. HealtheClinic.org is one of them, created by health professionals who have had first-hand experience working in deprived areas of other countries as well as places in the United States. I am delighted to support this exciting effort to stimulate new approaches for providing better health services to all in need.

Biographical information

Education

• Bachelor's Degree - University of Washington
• Master's Degree - Columbia University
• Doctor of Philosophy - Brandeis University

Professional Career

• Counselor for Foreign Students, Univ. of Washington, 1946-48
• Social Worker, Community Service Society, New York City, 1948-52
• Field Representative 1952-56, Executive Director, Connecticut Assn. For Mental Health, 1956-1963. New Haven.
• Researcher, Assistant Director 1965-67, Executive Director, 1967-1989 The Medical Foundation, Inc., Boston.

Positions in Voluntary Organizations

• U.S. Mental Health Assns. Staff Council, President.
• Massachusetts Assn. of Social Workers, Vice-President
• Massachusetts Health Council (80 public & private
  health related agencies), President, two terms
• Massachusetts Public Health Association, (individual Public health workers), Vice President, President
• Public Health Museum in Massachusetts, Incorporator, President, three terms, Honorary Board Member

Honorary Awards

• First recipient of Annual Award for Leadership in Massachusetts Health Organizations, from the Massachusetts Health Council, 1981.
• Annual Shattuck Medal Award in 1982 for Contributions to Public Health in Massachusetts from the Massachusetts Public Health Association.