Since 1990, ASTMH and RSTMH award since 1990, have alternated each year in awarding the Donald Mackay Medal for outstanding work in tropical health, especially relating to improvements in the health of rural or urban workers in the tropics. The shared awarding of this medal is done in recognition of the special bond between the two societies to further promote the achievements of Dr. Mackay, who died in 1981 after many years of outstanding work in tropical occupational health, especially on the tea plantations of South Asia.
Hosted by RSTMH, the celebration at TropMed17 included a number of our U.K. colleagues, including RSTMH President Simon Cathcart and RSTMH CEO Tamar Gosh. Dr. Cathcart and Ms. Ghosh were recognized by ASTMH President Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH, during the plenary session Sunday that kicked off the 2017 Annual Meeting.
Among the event’s highlights, ASTMH Past President Stephen Higgs, PhD, FRES, FASTMH, and Dr. Cathcart (pictured, left and right) read a declaration printed on a traditional scroll proclaiming that ASTMH and RSTMH will continue to further efforts to reach our shared missions. Given today politics around the world, Dr. Cathcart said that this declaration of unity by both societies was a positive message highlighting the shared benefit of global cooperation.Additionally, Ms. Ghosh said that she and ASTMH Executive Director Karen A. Goraleski have met during the year to discuss potential initiatives for the two societies to undertake to foster and promote the tropical medicine and global health communities.