John(Jack)HigginsMD

Research • Los Altos, CA

President and Chief Medical Officer

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Office
P.O. Box 1826
Los Altos, CA 94023
Phone+1 650-823-9216

Summary

Following careers in Family Medicine and clinical research in the medical device industry, I founded the Global Telehealth Network (GTN) and currently serve as its President and Chief Medical Officer.

GTN is a nonprofit organization that is recruiting physician volunteers to provide pro bono consultations for health workers located in medically underserved areas when they encounter patients with complex problems.

Some heroic physicians accept the expense and risks of joining medical missions in faraway places. Many others say they would volunteer to help patients in need if they could do it without disrupting their practices and personal lives. GTN is making that possible by letting physicians use computers in their offices or homes to provide real-time, online consultations to help health workers and patients virtually anywhere in the world without having to travel there.

GTN partners with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working around the world. For nurses and other health workers who function with little support, our volunteer primary care physicians can help. For physicians in remote areas who encounter patients with complex problems, our volunteer medical and surgical specialists can provide online consultations.

We're currently launching pilot projects that will provide services to 3 hospitals, 4 clinics and 2 schools in Kenya and Uganda. Meanwhile, we're planning a second round of sites in Liberia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Galápagos Islands and the U.S.

We can also offer help in disaster areas, war-torn regions, refugee camps and centers serving victims of human trafficking.

By providing telehealth technology for use by physician volunteers and developing a network to connect them with patients, GTN can offer services to individuals and families with the greatest need but most limited access to care.

If you're interested in learning more, please contact me at jhiggins@globaltelenet.org.