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A cornucopia of thanks

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In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, GHTC asked our members and staff to share what they are most thankful for in global health.

November 20, 2016 by Marissa Chmiola

It’s that time of year when Americans join together with family and friends and give thanks for the many things in life for which they are most grateful. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, GHTC asked our members and staff to share what they are most thankful for in global health.

Here’s what they had to say:

“I am thankful for all patients who take part in clinical trials so that the world will have more effective regimens to end TB, in all its forms.”
Willo Brock, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, TB Alliance
“I’m thankful there is increasing global interest in the development and production of vaccines for diseases of poverty, like hookworm, schistosomiasis, and Chagas.”
Tara Bracken, Communications Associate, Sabin Vaccine Institute
“I am thankful that 2016 was a turning point for women’s HIV prevention research—one that brought us hope for one day soon expanding women’s options with a long-acting vaginal ring. I am also grateful for the amazing partners who believe women’s health and empowerment matter!”
Zeda Rosenberg, Founder and CEO, International Partnership for Microbicides
“I’m thankful for the new generation of emerging R&D leaders who are both generating new knowledge and achieving global health impact.”
Dr. Timothy Mastro, Chief Science Officer, FHI 360
“I’m thankful for sustained US government funding to fight emerging epidemics, like Ebola and Zika, through R&D and scientific advancement.”
Lindsay Litwin, Jhpiego Innovations
“I’m thankful that elimination of sleeping sickness is now a real possibility thanks to new tests being strategically implemented alongside new vector control technologies and improved treatment regimens.”
Dr. Joseph Ndung’u, Head of Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, FIND
“I’m thankful that the six antimalarials MMV and partners have brought forward are saving young lives today!”
Andrea Lucard, Executive Vice President of External Relations, Medicines for Malaria Venture
“I’m thankful for research that has shown promise for an effective six-month regimen to cure XDR-TB [extensively drug-resistant TB].”
Rabita Aziz, Policy Research Coordinator, ISDA Global Health
“I’m thankful for the inspirational dedication and continued participation of all HIV vaccine clinical trial volunteers. Without you, the important work of finding a safe and effective HIV vaccine would not be possible.”
Dr. Fran Priddy, Chief Medical Officer, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
“I’m thankful for the over 200 members of Congress who have co-sponsored the Reach Act to accelerate efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers and children around the world.”
Brandon Ball, Policy and Advocacy Officer, PATH
"I'm thankful for low-cost interventions like chlorhexidine gel for umbilical cord care being made more accessible to Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce newborn mortality."
Assumpta Nantume, Communications Associate/Global Health Corps Fellow, Global Health Council
“I'm thankful a new generation of Middle Eastern scientists are advancing the development, production, and characterization of new vaccines to help endemic countries better respond to the threat of infectious diseases like MERS, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis.”
Chris Bennett, Senior Program Officer, Sabin Vaccine Institute
“I’m thankful for pioneering donors such as UNITAID for funding development of new hepatitis C tests for countries where fewer than 1 percent of people living with hepatitis C have been diagnosed.”
Catharina Boehme, Chief Executive Officer, FIND
“I’m thankful for scientists and researchers who devote their lives to important global infectious disease work to help people around the world and to protect Americans here at home and the funding the US government provides for such important work.”
Karen Goraleski, Executive Director, American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
“I’m thankful for the tremendous progress we’ve made in advancing child and maternal survival and excited for the prospect of saving the lives of more than 6 million mothers and children by 2030 if we work together to advance and scale-up 11 promising innovations.”
Heather Ignatius, Multilateral, US, and Europe Policy & Advocacy Team Lead, PATH
“I’m thankful for researchers across the globe whose efforts have, with unprecedented speed, deepened our scientific understanding of and advanced new tools to prevent, detect, and treat Zika.”
Kat Kelley, Senior Program Assistant, GHTC
“I'm thankful so many good dengue vaccine candidates are in development that could help curb the growing global dengue epidemic.”
Tara Bracken, Communications Associate, Sabin Vaccine Institute
"I'm thankful for increased awareness on global antibiotic resistance and WHO's new evidence-based Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines."
Danielle Heiberg, Advocacy Manager, Global Health Council
“I'm thankful for the lives of mothers and babies that have been saved, sustained, and supported by midwives across the globe.”
Shannon Egan, Jhpiego Innovations
“I’m thankful that malaria rapid tests have contributed to better malaria control, which in turn has helped fuel a massive decline in childhood mortality over the past decade—and that partners around the world are working together to find innovative new solutions for identifying non-malarial causes of fever. Diagnosis matters!”
Dr. Iveth J. González, Head of Malaria and Acute Febrile Syndrome programme, FIND
“I’m thankful for the support of MMV’s committed donors and partners that make our work to develop new antimalarials for vulnerable populations possible.”
Andrea Lucard, Executive Vice President of External Relations, Medicines for Malaria Venture
“I’m thankful to be a part of the #StartStayAIDSFree initiative which aims to end AIDS in children by 2020.”
Catherine Connor, Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
“I’m thankful that members of both major US political parties have continued to demonstrate strong, bipartisan support for global health research and development and US efforts to save lives around the world.”
Marissa Chmiola, Communications Officer, GHTC
Categories: Child health, Contraceptives, Diagnostics, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Maternal health, Microbicides, Tuberculosis, Zika

About the author

Marissa ChmiolaGHTC

Marissa manages the development and implementation of the coalition’s communications activities, overseeing GHTC’s digital presence, media outreach, events, publications, and internal communication practices. She also manages GHTC's monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning and donor reporting...read more about this author

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