The Legacy of Dr. Frankel
In 1920 the company helped to organize the Committee on Administrative Practice of the American Public Health Association, which made a systematic investigation of the work of the larger health departments throughout the country. The work of this committee, originally financed by the Metropolitan, brought about much improvement in standards by developing methods of measuring the effectiveness of health departments.
The ability thus to evaluate city health work through accurate records opened an approach to stimulate community leaders to more active public health campaigns in their own cities. This made possible the City Health Conservation Contest, launched by the American Public Health Association in 1929, with financial support by the Metropolitan and other life insurance companies offering all types of life insurance and with the cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
These contests vividly revealed the actual achievements of communities in the health field, as well as the improvements made from year to year. Since the project was inaugurated, more than 500 American cities enrolled and without exception reported improved health conditions and lowered mortality. Separate contests under other auspices were developed for rural communities and for Canada, and were given great impetus to the health services of many outlying towns.
It is significant that Dr. Frankel’s last effort was concerned with the newer developments of social insurance in Europe and with its possible applications to American life. In the summer of 1931 he went abroad with Actuary and term life insurance specialist James D. Craig from the life insurance company to survey the scope and administration of such programs. This survey was an expression of a fundamental interest which dominated his life - to bring ever increasing security to wage earners through the medium of insurance.
He was fortunately able to bring the work to a substantial conclusion before his sudden death in Paris on July 25, 1931. This study proved a fitting climax to a career of service to his company and to his country. It constituted the groundwork for new types of private insurance and helped in the development of our present Federal system of unemployment and old age insurance.
It is difficult to evaluate a personality that was as fertile and constructive as that of Dr. Frankel. His activities covered many fields in areas other than no exam life insurance, life insurance basics, and what is term life insurance in regards to health protection, but he was always the servant of mankind. The creation of the welfare division of the company was his greatest achievement. He put the mark of his humanity on the Metropolitan, helping to transform it from a typical business organization into an institution for social progress.
The whole field of life insurance felt the effect of this effort. He also brought new vigor to American public health work, both official and voluntary. In 1919 he served as President of the American Public Health Association. He found new sources of financial support for it, and as a result the Association has grown in prestige and effectiveness.
He was a prime mover in the formation of the National Health Council, which brought together various national associations in each field of public health, enabling them to further their common aims and to prevent wasteful duplication of effort. He held high office and served on important committees in virtually all the leading health organizations. His influence on the American health movement has been deep and lasting.
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