This has been a year of changes. Perhaps the ancient goddess of change, Iris, has been looking over our shoulder. We have had losses, most recently the father of us all in community public health, Dr. Carl Taylor, to whose memory this issue is dedicated. We have lost a pioneer in clinical support for breastfeeding and in international human milk banking, Mary Rose Tully, MPH, RLC, a personal loss for me and many others who have one foot in MCH and the other in IH. And we have also lost far too many others who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of humankind.
And we have gained. As a Section, our membership is stable to growing in a year that most Sections diminished, with primary and secondary members’ levels staying apace or ahead of other Sections. Rose and Helene are staying on top of losses and gains with personal notes. As a result of our growth, we will have an additional seat and vote in the Governing Council of APHA. We hope to turn around the candidacy of our hero, Maggie Huff-Rouselle, and seat her on the Executive Board in the next year - but we all must pull together on this: Tell other Sections, tell your state affiliate.
Our sessions, including our pre-session event, were very well attended, and CCIH is growing. Our coordination with MCH, Food and Nutrition, and Environment are growing stronger, along with our longtime friends in Reproductive Health. We initiated a mini-survey/questionnaire to membership for their inputs, with very positive feedback. Gopal's new concept for a greeting booth for international visitors at the Annual Meeting was a big hit, and, with a new staff member at our side, Jirair and his Policy and Advocacy Committee are making real strides in influencing not only APHA policy, but also U.S. policy on international health issues.
And some old stories may be rewritten this year. Rose and Curtiss may yet leverage a membership approach that honors both the IH Section and the Global Health Council for their complementary contributions. In addition, I hope that we will complete our work toward the development of a Strategic Plan with a five-year approach, to create sustainable action.
Further, while we have struggled to find active members in our Section that are in the US often enough to serve in leadership positions, we are taking the plunge this year with term limits. So, please, join and become active in a committee, and who knows, you may be wielding power in the near future!!
As with any dynamic organization, we need your skills and time as well. In particular, right now we need individuals with requisite skills to take on event management and strategic planning leadership position. Please contact me or Carol Dabbs if you have interest in either.
Once again, on behalf of the elected leadership of our IH Section, I thank you for all each of you is doing and will do to support the health and wellbeing of our sisters and brothers worldwide.
Miriam, with Malcolm
Chair and Chair-Elect
--Miriam Labbok, MD, MPH, Chair IH Section, Telephone: (919) 966-0928; Fax: (919) 966-0458; E-mail: labbok@unc.edu; Malcolm Bryant, Chair-Elect (2010) bryantm@bu.eduÂ