As the US government redefines its global health engagement strategies, policy makers increasingly embrace the need to help partner nations strengthen health systems and build public health surveillance and response capabilities. Although many in the foreign policy and security communities now place a high priority on “capacity building activities,” whether they focus on HIV/AIDS or emerging infections, what this means in practical terms ranges widely and there is no clear list of stakeholders.

Dr. Kevin De Cock, Director of CDC’s Center for Global Health, lead a panel discussion with distinguished health leaders from CDC and the Department of Defense about programs that help countries build and measure their public health systems and workforces, ultimately contributing to overall national development and security. The panelists included:

Kevin M. De Cock, MD, FRCP
Director, Center for Global Health
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Bassam Jarrar, MA, MBA
Acting Director, Division of Public Health Systems and Workforce Development
Center for Global Health
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Deborah L. Birx, MD
Director, Global AIDS Program
Center for Global Health
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Capt. Kevin L. Russell, MD, MTM&H
Director, Division of Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (GEIS) Operations;
Deputy Director, Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC)
US Department of Defense