ATLANTA – The Metro Atlanta Chamber is presenting Task Force for Global Health President and CEO Dr. David Ross its Heroes of Global Health award today at the sixth annual Bill Foege Global Health Awards ceremony, presented by MAP International. The Chamber is also honoring Dr. Jonathan Lewin, former Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Emory University and CEO and Board Chair of Emory Healthcare, with a Heroes of Global Health award.
“The recipients of this award, Dr. Jonathan Lewin and Dr. David Ross, truly embody the spirit of this award. Their dedication and level of service have made them leaders in Atlanta, in Georgia and the world. Dr. Ross and Dr. Lewin are extraordinary individuals who have devoted their careers to addressing healthcare access and care equity. It is my very great pleasure to recognize them on behalf of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and to celebrate their exceptional achievements.” says David Hartnett, Chief Economic Development Officer of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
The Bill Foege Global Health Awards presented by MAP International pay tribute to Task Force for Global Health co-founder Dr. Bill Foege, a global hero best known for eradicating smallpox. The award, presented at a gathering of Atlanta’s business and health community leaders, honors individuals and organizations for their commitment to making advancements in global health. This year’s Bill Foege Global Health Awards recipients are Dr. Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College; Dr. Jim Curran, Dean of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University; and Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation, chosen for their humanitarian achievements in combating diseases and health equality worldwide.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Jon Lewin, Helene Gayle and Jim Curran in many ways over the years and it’s an honor to receive this award and to celebrate the collective global impact of Atlanta’s public health community,” said Dr. Ross.
Dr. Ross will retire this year after serving with The Task Force for 22 years, the last six as President and CEO. The Task Force announced this week that Dr. Patrick O’Carroll, The Task Force’s current head of Health Systems Strengthening, will succeed him.
A recognized leader in global health, Dr. Ross has led collaborative programs to strengthen information capacity of public health systems in the U.S. and other countries for nearly five decades. Dr. Ross launched The Task Force’s Public Health Informatics Institute in 2002 and spearheaded its growth to become internationally known in the field of public health informatics, a discipline that focuses on using information to improve health outcomes. Before joining The Task Force Dr. Ross held leadership, administrative and corporate consultant roles with the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a private hospital system in Maryland, and Cerner, one of the largest health information technology firms.
About The Task Force for Global Health
The Task Force for Global Health, founded nearly 40 years ago to advance health equity, works with partners in more than 150 countries to eliminate diseases, ensure access to vaccines and essential medicines, and strengthen health systems to protect populations. Expertise includes neglected tropical diseases and other infectious diseases; vaccine safety, distribution and access; and health systems strengthening, including supply chains for essential medicines, public health informatics for data to inform programs and policies, and training and support for epidemiologists and laboratorians to prevent and respond to outbreaks. COVID-19 activities have included helping more than 30 low- and middle-income countries roll out vaccines; informing vaccine safety guidelines; training epidemiologists in more than 100 countries on disease surveillance and response; distributing essential protection and treatment to hard-hit communities; advising on digital contact tracing; using existing health programs to ensure protection for vulnerable groups, such as those afflicted with other diseases; and leveraging our existing supply chains for ongoing response. For more information, visit www.taskforce.org and our 2021 annual report.
Media Contact:
India Maul
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