Meet Your ASTMH Staff

Posted 15 February 2019

Karen A. Goraleski, CEO

Karen came to ASTMH in 2010 and as CEO, oversees all aspects of the Society’s efforts, from the Journal, CTropMed® certification and the Annual Meeting to awards and research opportunities, policy development, advocacy, communications, and membership.  

She has testified before Senate Appropriation Sub-Committees making the case for strong tropical medicine research funding and is a frequent moderator of Hill briefings on a range of science policy issues. She also is a Steering Committee member of the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) and a former board member of the Global Health Council. 

Prior to joining ASTMH, Karen was Vice President of Public Health Partnerships at Research!America, where she expanded the organization’s national public health research advocacy efforts and established its first global health research advocacy program. Earlier positions included executive roles at the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, both in Chicago. 

What attracted you to ASTMH and what do you bring to the Society?
Working as an advocate for research for many years, I was well aware of ASTMH’s stature and stellar reputation. I saw huge potential for ASTMH to be more influential, to reach a wider audience, to reach more students and trainees and international colleagues, and to play a more meaningful role in media, policy and federal funding circles. With ASTMH’s solid base of scientific integrity, I knew my job would be easy. You can’t build on soft footing. 

The growth that ASTMH has experienced during the last nine years couldn’t be done without the partnership that I am fortunate to have with our Board of Directors and, of course, the leadership of our Presidents. ASTMH is a big tent, rich with dedicated and diverse members and volunteers who really are the life-blood of this member-driven Society. It’s a dream job for me that I can be both a leader and a partner on the frontlines of world’s largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. Not to mention that it’s like a graduate course in tropical medicine every week. 

This month, ASTMH become a self-managed Society. What was your role in that process?
The decision to become self-managed was incepted and accomplished by the Board of Directors, beginning with then-President Pat Walker leading the Board to a unanimous vote. Key decisions were then identified and finalized by last year’s President, Regina Rabinovich, and launched under current President Chandy John. Secretary-Treasurer David Hill has been a central figure through it all with his clear-eyed wisdom and focus. Acknowledgment must also be paid to leaders who were part of the decision points along the way and have since completed their terms: past-President Steve Higgs, and Board members Serap Aksoy, Laura Kramer, and Ann Powers. 

I applaud the Board for the bold, yet appropriate decision to move to a self-managed society. This action will be noted as a landmark strategic step in ASTMH’s history and is the next step in the Society’s evolution. My role now is to direct the staff through the transition period, to work with the Board on its strategic priorities and keep our eyes on the mission. We may be in 2019, but we have to think and plan for what we will be by 2029 and even 2039.  We are our past, our present and we must be our future. ASTMH has been working to advance global health since 1903, and we’re not stopping. 

How has that transition been?
On one hand, this has been a major undertaking. On the other hand, with a combined staff team experience of nearly 100 years, I was 110 percent confident that we could take this on. Last fall I brought on Steve Croll, our new COO; his expertise in operations has made this complex move look pretty seamless. And if you’re doing things right, with the right people on board, that’s how it should be. (OK, I did have a heart flutter when my email was cut off for a day during the physical data transfer.) This is a tightknit, hardworking team. They have a deep respect and admiration for this Society and enjoy interacting with our members. Anyone who has attended the Annual Meeting – and that’s thousands of you every year – know what I’m talking about. Like I said: Dream job. I’m lucky. 
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