Title: D.C. METRO AREA GLOBAL HEALTH INTEREST GROUP

Author:

Section/SPIG: International Health

Issue Date:

---

Building on the successful IH regional groups in Seattle, San Francisco and other cities around the country, a new regional group has been formed for the Washington, D.C. metro area - the D.C. Global Health Interest Group (DC-GHIG). Seminars held addressed the WHO tobacco control treaty, the U.S. politics and funding of international AIDS programs, immigrant health in the US –- lessons from IH, child injury, the neglected component of child survival, and IH as U.S. foreign policy.

The format of these meetings is a café style exchange on a selected topic. One expert in the field provides 10 to 20 minutes of background information on the topic, and then the floor is opened to roundtable discussion. The ambiance has been very collegial, and attendees have expressed great satisfaction with their opportunities to discuss across the table cutting-edge issues with experts in the field. Anyone in the D.C. Metro area who is interested in proactively participating in the DC-GHIG, including proposing topics for discussion and organizing one of the monthly meetings, is encouraged to contact either of the two co-conveners of the regional group: Julie Hantman, MPH, at or Curtiss Swezy at <cswezy@cox.net>.