A Celebration of Partnership 2010

Information about Accordia’s 2010 Celebration of Partnership Now Available

Accordia Global Health Foundation will hold its annual Celebration of Partnership in Washington, DC, on Capitol Hill, on September 14, 2010. This year’s event will engage members of Congress, congressional and federal agency staff, Administration representatives, private sector leaders, philanthropists, global health advocates, and concerned individuals in a discussion designed to focus on the opportunities and challenges of building a strong network of African medical schools—locally-owned and locally-managed institutions with the long term capacity to achieve better health outcomes for Africa.

U.S. leadership in global health has been exceptionally strong in response to the unprecedented infectious disease crisis that has resulted from HIV/AIDs, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases in Africa. This leadership comes from a multitude of stakeholders and is motivated by diverse factors including humanitarian interests, contributions to foreign policy, and protection of U.S. individuals from health and security threats.

As we move deeper into this crisis and face the unfortunate reality that this is a long-term problem, the U.S. and other stakeholders must determine ways to meet the needs of developing countries responsibly and with the goal of supporting long-term solutions. Recognizing this, PEPFAR II mandates the training of 140,000 new health care workers. In this context, there is a tremendous opportunity to work in partnership with African medical schools, nursing schools, and schools of public health to drive systemic change through high quality pre- and in-service training targeted at community needs, research that is applicable in resource-limited settings, and evidence-based health policy.

The 2010 Celebration of Partnership will begin with a symposium that will include testimony from Dr. Nelson Sewankambo, an early AIDS researcher and principal of the College of Health Sciences at Uganda’s Makerere University—one of the oldest and most distinguished medical schools on the continent. It will also feature Dr. Alex Coutinho, executive director of the Infectious Diseases Institute, who will provide a close up look at the impact of a Center of Excellence on local health systems. Other presenters will include Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, who leads the sub-Saharan African Medical Schools Study at the George Washington University’s Department of Health Policy; he will report on innovations in African medical education identified by the Study.

A gala reception will follow the symposium to honor Accordia’s supporters, partners, and friends. At it, Accordia’s Leadership Fund for Excellence donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized.

Congressional sponsors of Accordia Global Health Foundation’s 2010 Celebration of Partnership currently include Senator Tom Harkin (IA), Senator John Barrasso (WY), and Representative Donald Payne (NJ).

 

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For information on corporate sponsorship of the 2010 Celebration of Partnership, please contact Accordia’s senior vice president for fund development, Cindy Sadler, at csadler@accordiafoundation.org. For information on the Leadership Fund for Excellence, please contact Accordia’s annual fund director, Keight Tucker, at ktucker@accordiafoundation.org. Alternatively, each can be reached at 202-534-1200.

 

Click here to see photos from previous Celebration of Partnership events.