DeKalb committee advances Jeremy Cole’s appointment after interview emphasizing access to care

The PEX committee advanced the nomination of Jeremy Cole, Ph.D., to a hospital authority post after an interview in which Cole highlighted strengthening hospital–clinic relationships and expanding access to preventive care.

Cole, introduced as the executive director of Mosaic Health Center in Clarkston, said his more than two decades in the nonprofit sector — including 11 years at UNICEF USA — shaped his priorities. "Contracting access to care just makes no sense. It's like taking food away from people who are hungry," Cole told the committee, arguing that cutting access increases downstream emergency-room use and financial pressure on systems such as Grady.

When commissioners asked how he would use the hospital-authority seat, Cole said his first priority would be to "continue to strengthen the relationship between the Fulton/DeKalb hospital authority and Grady," and his second would be coordinating clinics and hospitals across the metro area to connect patients with consistent outpatient care. He also urged improved referral systems so patients discharged without insurance have a place to continue medication and follow-up.

Committee members asked whether any professional, financial, or personal conflicts of interest might affect Cole's service; Cole replied there were none. Commissioners also pressed him on local public-health challenges in DeKalb County, including areas with limited clinic access; Cole repeated that expanding front-end preventive care would reduce later high-cost care.

The committee moved to approve the nomination for agenda item 2026-0756; the motion carried at committee. The approval advances the appointment for consideration at the next full board meeting.