Engagement of Public Health Professionals in Global Health Advocacy

Over the past decade the global health field has expanded exponentially, bringing about extraordinary improvements in population health. Organizations including the APHA and the Global Health Council have played a key role in the expanding resources devoted to global health, developing and influencing policy, supporting public health associations in developing countries and in sharing knowledge on program implementation and evaluation. New organizations such as the Consortium of Universities for Global Health have emerged to promote interdisciplinary work and knowledge sharing on global health in the academic community. The need for global health advocacy was well illustrated by the groundswell of support in the global health community for reconstituting and rebuilding the Global Health Council after its suspension of operations in 2012. This session will address the role of collective action in global health advocacy, including strategies for maintaining global health momentum in a time of fiscal contraction. It will also consider how APHA members and sections, and APHA institutionally, can collaborate and develop strategic partnerships with the re-emerging Global Health Council and other global health organizations to maximize impact on policy and resource commitments. There will be ample opportunity for interaction and discussion.