As we step into a new year, it’s worth pausing to reflect on everything we accomplished together in 2025. It was a year of myriad challenges and disruptions, but also breakthroughs and milestones, that reinforced the strength and resilience of our global health community.
Advocacy When It Mattered Most
Early in the year, we faced significant policy shifts, including the dismantling of USAID. Across the year, ASTMH led and supported a number of policy efforts championing the
importance of global health programs and speaking up for
U.S. federal employees. We issued six policy statements, and the
Journal published two editorials, and we maintained regular dialogue with
NIH,
CDC and the
State Department ensuring that science and collaboration remained front and center—even in uncertain times. We
opposed proposed funding cuts across key U.S. agencies supporting science for global health through 218 Congressional appropriation submissions, joining 34 community sign-on letters, leading 14 ASTMH policy letters, and submitting six written testimonies to Congress.
Driving Global Health Conversations
From the Alan J. Magill World Malaria Day Policy Forum to a Congressional briefing on malaria, ASTMH worked tirelessly to keep tropical medicine and global health on the agenda. We spoke up for our community’s work at global convenings, including the United Nations General Assembly and World Health Summit, and celebrated major commitments from the Gates Foundation that will shape the future of global health research and innovation. We expanded our reach through webinars on topics ranging from
AI’s Future in Tropical Medicine to
career paths in Medical Entomology, offering members more opportunities to learn and connect. A special shout-out to ASTMH’s five subgroups, which led numerous webinars and regional dialogues across the year.
A Historic First: TropMed Goes Global
One of the year’s biggest highlights was hosting our first
Annual Meeting outside of the United States—in Toronto! This milestone was made possible by the dedication of our team and partners. It was an uncertain year for our community in terms of jobs, funding, visas, a U.S. government shutdown and flight cancellations. But our community is nothing if not resilient, and we were delighted to host 3,879 attendees from 105 countries, including 1,102 first time attendees.
Strengthening Our Core
Membership engagement grew through virtual events, the launch of a pilot
mid-career peer leadership cohort, and we advanced education and fellowship programs to support the next generation of scientists.
AJTMH, our journal, continued to deliver world-class research that influences global health policy and practice.
What’s Next?
While it remains a challenging environment for the global scientific health community, 2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year. We’ll launch a new website, expand virtual programming (including a new
virtual professional development learning series,) and gather for our Annual Meeting at Gaylord National Harbor, MD, near Washington, DC, November 18–22. Under ASTMH President Terrie Taylor’s leadership, we’ll also continue to advocate for policies that protect global health and foster collaborations that amplify our impact; look for new ways to sustain connectivity, interaction and access to our global community; and consider the sustainability and future of ASTMH given the evolving landscape.
Thank You!
I would like to extend special thanks to 2025 President Dr. David Fidock and all ASTMH leadership and staff. When times got tough, they didn’t step back, they stepped up to tackle every policy and operational challenge head on. It really takes a village!
And thank you for remaining united with us on this journey. Together, we’re continuing to build a healthier, more equitable world. Stay tuned for more updates—and wishing all a positive and productive start to 2026.
-Jamie Bay Nishi