Rogers Society Ambassadors Visit Washington

Three Ambassadors in the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research met with Washington media and Congressional staff March 27 in advance of World Health Day (April 7).

Through stories from their work, Margaret "Peggy" Bentley, PhD, of the University of North Carolina; Eric G. Bing, MD, PhD, MPH, of Charles R. Drew University; and Nilda P. Peragallo, DrPH, RN, of the University of Miami, conveyed the value of U.S.-led global health research and pointed to the increasingly important role their work serves in health diplomacy.

The Ambassadors met with Phil Musgrove, deputy editor at Health Affairs. Another meeting followed with Brenda Wilson, science correspondent, and Joanne Silberner, health policy correspondent, of National Public Radio. Peragallo also met with the Miami Herald's Pablo Bachelet.

The Ambassadors engaged Rep. Donald Payne (NJ), chair of the new Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, on several global health research issues and offered to serve as resources to Payne and his committee members. Within the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the new subcommittee has jurisdiction over global infectious diseases and the global capacity to address health issues.

They also met with staff from the offices of Rep. David Price (NC), Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA), Rep. David Obey (WI) and Rep. Henry Waxman (CA). Peragallo also met with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Hill Hearing on Global Polling Data

The Ambassadors' messages endorsed the idea of health diplomacy, supported by public opinion polls presented at Congressional hearings earlier this year. "American science and technology engender substantial respect around the world," Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, told the House Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight in March.

"Science and technology aside, a majority of countries view U.S. influence in the world as negative," Kull said. "Africans, however, have consistently positive views of the United States." Kull attributed this positive view to U.S. foreign assistance to Africa. Visit www.internationalrelations.house.gov for more details.

Originally published 5/2007

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