Steve Higgs Reflects on His 2016 Presidency

Posted 13 February 2017

Past President Stephen Higgs, PhD, FRES, FASTMH, reflected on his year leading the ASTMH Council—the greatest accomplishments, changes seen and things yet to come for the Society.

What stands out most to you about your 12 months as ASTMH President?

I have watched the Society become a respected, impartial resource for information in the battles against infectious disease. Every year it seems that we are seeing some unexpected tropical disease become prevalent in the world. Previously it was West Nile, then chikungunya, Ebola, and then this year Zika. While the rest of the world is beginning to find out about these infectious diseases, the membership of ASTMH has experts in these specialties who already have seen what is happening. These experts have experience in the areas where these pathogens occur naturally. Often they are part of the historical story of these diseases, from discovery to the recognition of their importance as significant human diseases. As a result, we, as a group, have the ability to put those members in touch with U.S. policymakers to represent their particular areas of expertise and represent the Society as a resource. We also host and participate in the types of annual meetings and conferences that seize the attention of U.S. policymakers. When the National Academies held a publicly broadcast symposium on research priorities for Zika, ASTMH leaders were sought out to participate.

Why is this important to the Society?

Society members enable us to communicate with health officials and the public as a whole—through our upgraded website, which was launched in early 2016, our Facebook and Twitter outlets, media relations program, and government advocacy efforts. We are a reliable source of information that has the trust of even the skeptics to provide input that is data-driven. Our scientists and physician scientists base their comments on fact, not on speculation. We are the largest global tropical health society, self-funded, independent, with no hidden agendas other than trying to make the world a healthier place. This makes ASTMH a valuable resource, something of which I experienced personally during the spring Zika outbreak.

What are you most proud of about your tenure as President?

The participation and the very embracing of ASTMH by so many junior members for whom we are a conduit in their professional careers. We are empowering the future leaders in tropical medicine and global health. Just this year, we introduced the Alan J. Magill Fellowship, which will provide a $50,000 stipend for up to two years to one annual recipient from Low and Low-Middle Income Countries where malaria is prevalent. The stipend is to be used for mentorship and career development projects. The Society is also deliberately targeting a junior trainee person to join the Council. These are excellent steps forward. Career development for students and trainees is my passion and I am very happy to see growth in this area evolving; I have no doubt that it will continue. As I was reviewing demographics of our Society and looking at our history, I also realized how, without any real directed effort, we are relatively balanced in terms of gender throughout Society activities, leadership and awards. I was delighted to announce that we will have our first Society-level award named after a female icon in tropical diseases. 

Why is growth in the international membership important?

I have had the pleasure of seeing the number of international constituents within our Society grow during my time as President. Personal contacts, personal interaction, and collaborations are essential in our profession as well as in an increasing number of other fields. They serve as an early-warning system to what’s going on outside of our own particular specialties. It is always good to reach out to trusted colleagues for information, and as a Society, that network is in place. For example, when I or another member of the Society makes a personal request to assist with something like Zika, we have in place a foundation of contacts for collaboration and we go to it. ASTMH has always had this to some degree, but now with a growing international component of membership—over a third of our members live out of the U.S.—our Society has the ability to reach into all areas of the globe for professional assistance. As I said in my Presidential Address, we are the International American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 
 
 
 
 
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