The Public Health Trust was created in 1973 by the Board of County Commissioners as an independent governing body concerned with the county’s most vital healthcare resource: Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Trust is comprised of concerned volunteer citizens who set policies that assure that Jackson Health System is responsive to community needs. This “citizen body” provides leadership for joint planning between Jackson Health System, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami-Dade County and other private and community organizations.

In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners amended Chapter 25A of the Miami-Dade County Code that governs the Public Health Trust. Notably, these changes altered the composition and size of the Public Health Trust as well as the responsibilities for countywide health care. A new Office of Countywide Health Care Planning was created under the Office of the County Manager and Jackson’s role was redefined to focus solely on the planning of facilities within the system.