Chair | Samya Z. Nasr, MD, ATSF | Ann Arbor, MI |
Vice Chair | Richard N. Van Zyl Smit, MBChB, PhD, ATSF | Cape Town, western Cape, South Africa |
Committee Member | Alejandro Casas | BOGOTA, CUNDINAMARCA, Colombia |
Committee Member - Immediate Past Chair | David M. Lewinsohn, MD, PhD, ATSF | Portland, OR |
Committee Member | Esther Barreiro, MD, PhD | Barcelona, CATALONIA, Spain |
Committee Member | Jacobo Sellares Torres, MD, PhD | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
Committee Member | Jeremiah Chakaya, MD | Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya |
Committee Member | Kiyoyasu Kurahashi, MD, PhD, ATSF | Narita, Chiba, Japan |
Committee Member | Kwun M. Fong, MBBS, PhD | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Committee Member | Lisa L. Chen, MD | Berkeley, CA |
Committee Member | Obianuju B. Ozoh, MBBS, ATSF, MSc | Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria |
Committee Member | Peggy S. Lai, ATSF, MPH, MD | Boston, MA |
Committee Member - MECOR Steering Committee Chair | Shannon S. Carson, MD | Chapel Hill, NC |
Committee Member | Sofia Konstantinopoulou | Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
Committee Member | Stephan Schwander, MD, PhD | Piscataway, NJ |
Committee Member | Timothy E. West, MD, MPH | Seattle, WA |
Committee Member | William Checkley, MD, PhD | Baltimore, MD |
Staff | Cristina Braz | New York, NY |
Staff | Karen J. Collishaw | New York, NY |
The International Health Committee develops strategies to promote the global mission of the ATS to improve the health of patients worldwide with pulmonary and sleep‐related conditions and critical illnesses. It recommends to the Board policies, guidelines, and programs that promote lung health worldwide as well as enhance care of the critically ill and those with sleep disorders worldwide. The Committee coordinates and facilitates the interactions of the Society with professional organizations based outside of the United States. It also provides oversight for programs and partnerships co‐ sponsored or endorsed by the ATS but initiated or managed by international, governmental, and non‐ governmental organizations and agencies. The Committee also advises the Executive Committee regarding participation of ATS officers in programs sponsored by international organizations and works in collaboration with the Research Advocacy Committee to advocate for international research funding. It will review, revise and implement an annual plan for the promotion of the Society’s Strategic Directions for Global Health that describes the activities and programs to achieve the aims of the Society in global health.
Benchmarks, 2022-2023:
• Implementation of Task Force recommendations through development of the following working groups: 1) Global Health Roadmap Working Group; 2) Global Health Policy Working Group; 3) MECOR Steering Committee; 4) International Conference & Education Working Group; 5) Global Health Dashboard Working Group, and 6) IHC Grant Working Group.
• Develop Global Health Roadmap and finalize the document at Leadership Summit 2022.
• Continue regular meetings of the ATS IHC International Health Forum.
• Continue development of the 2022 5-year MECOR Strategic Plan. Priority areas include: Faculty and Student Development, Alumni Engagement, Curriculum, and Growth Strategies. Final document to be finalized at in-person meeting January 2022.
• Continue to promote the MECOR research award program and develop additional funding mechanisms. Develop additional fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the Funds For the Future Committee.
• Evaluate existing relationships with peer organizations to generate value for international members.
• Continue to organize and implement the ATS International Scholarship Program and the MECOR Scholarship Program.
• Continue to organize and host the International Scholars Poster Colloquium, either in-person or virtually. Work with the Task force on Designing Future ATS Conferences to ensure the recommendations are aligned.
• Nominate a diverse slate of candidates for ATS Respiratory Health Awards.