ASTMH News

March 2012

 

1. ASTMH on the Hill: Sustaining Progress--Creating U.S. Policies to Spur Global Health Innovation

At a Congressional briefing held by the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) on February 28, ASTMH Executive Director Karen A. Goraleski moderated a panel discussion on the value of a strong U.S. investment in global health R&D. The GHTC represents 40 global health R&D advocacy organizations, including ASTMH.

With more than 120 attendees including representation from six congressional offices and the HELP Committee filling the Kennedy Caucus Room, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., one of the briefing sponsors, stopped in and spoke to the audience. Sen. Boozman was an original co-sponsor of the 2011 Malaria Day resolution and, as chair of the House Malaria Caucus, extended it to become the House Malaria and Neglected Tropical Disease Caucus. He currently co-chairs the Senate Working Group on Malaria. Read more and see photos from the briefing. 

2.ASTMH Goes (Back) to Peru for Second Annual Conference

"As someone who spent four wonderful years in Peru learning from my Peruvian colleagues, it is rewarding to be a part of this intellectual excitement," said ASTMH's Alan Magill, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FASTMH, of the second annual ASTMH and Peru collaboration held in Lima on February 16. This collaboration featured the presentation in Spanish of Peruvian research offered at the ASTMH Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last December. Held at the Auditorium of the College of Physicians, the attendance of 324 was more than double that of last year. The conference included 13 oral and 43 poster presentations and featured a "Meet the Professor" session similar to one presented in Philadelphia. Topics focused on health issues relevant to Peru and the Americas, namely malaria, leishmaniasis, cysticerosis, dengue fever, enteric disease and others, and included presentations by Magill, ASTMH Councilor Dan Bausch, MD, MPH&TM and AJTMH Editor-in-Chief Joe Vinetz, MD, FASTMH. Read more and see photos from the event.

3. AJTMH: Coming to a Smartphone Near You

Later this year, the AJTMH will place the latest tropical medicine research in the palm of your hand. An app is in development for your smartphone. The journal app will provide you a convenient way to access the quality science content you've come to expect every month. Stay tuned for updates.

4. Kaiser Family Foundation Webcast: President's FY2013 Budget and Its Impact on Global Health

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently hosted a webcast on President Obama's FY2013 budget proposal and the impact it might have on global health. The webcast, which featured a panel of global health experts, followed the release of a fact sheet providing an overview of President Obama's budget plan for the Global Health Initiative. View the webcast. 

5. Last Chance: Renew Your ASTMH Membership Today

As a member of the world's leading society for professionals working in tropical medicine and global health, we hope you will continue to take advantage of benefits ranging from discounted registration at the annual meeting to an online subscription of the AJTMH to networking with more than 3,500 of the world's leading scientists in the field. If you haven't already, please take the time to renew your membership today. The deadline for renewal is March 31.

6. Be the Future: Council Interest Form Deadline March 27

Are you passionate about the mission and vision of ASTMH? Do you wish to ensure that the Society thrives by engaging and energizing the next generation of leaders in the field? Help build ASTMH as the world's leading organization for professionals in tropical medicine and global health by becoming a Council member. Indicate your interest by submitting your name in application. Deadline is March 27.

7. Upcoming Deadlines and Related Links

For more information about awards guidelines, applications and deadlines, please visit the 61st Annual Meeting site. 

Annual Meeting Travel Awards
--Application deadline: April 22
Call for Abstracts
--Submission deadline: May 3
Student Travel Awards
--ACAV Kelly Labell Award: Deadline May 3
--ACME Student Travel Award: Deadline May 3
Young Investigator Awards
--Application deadline: May 3
Elsevier Clinical Research Award
--Application, guidelines available March 23
--Application deadline: May 22
Communications Award
--Guidelines available: May 1
--Nomination site opens: June 1
--Nomination deadline: August 1

8. Society Flick Pick: Guess Who's Playing a Trop Med Doc?

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967) is well-known as legend Spencer Tracy's final film--and his final film with Katharine Hepburn. But the real star of the film is Sidney Poitier, who, as Dr. John Wade Prentice, a world-renowned tropical medicine doctor, has arrived to test their patience--and their liberal ideals.

You may wish to put this film on your viewing list again--or for the first time--to catch all of the tropical-medicine references. Well before he flies off to the WHO in Geneva, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" establishes Dr. Prentice as a respected world citizen, and casts tropical medicine as a calling for the passionate and compassionate alike.