Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102805

Aaron Katz, CPH, Packard-Gates Population Leadership Program, University of Washington, 1107 NE 45th Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105, 206-616-5227, garlyk@u.washington.edu, Sharon Rudy, PhD, Public Health Institute, Population Leadership Program, 529 14th Street NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20045, Esther Tahrir, MPH, International Health Programs, 210 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, and Kim Ammann Howard, PhD, Strategic Assessment, Planning and Research, 1563 Solano Ave. #317, Berkeley, CA 94707.

Despite the availability of many cost-effective interventions, family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) outcomes are unacceptably poor in most developing countries. A critical need for addressing these problems is stronger government and civil society leadership that can raise the priority of FP and RH on the policy agenda, successfully advocate for progressive FP and RH policies, secure adequate, long-term resources for such policies, and build, sustain, and manage public agencies and NGOs that effectively and efficiently deliver FP and RH services. Proven interventions combined with such leadership would have dramatic long-term impacts on FP and RH outcomes in developing countries. The University of Washington Packard-Gates Population Leadership Program has implemented a highly successful fellowship program that is strengthening the leadership capacity in many countries and supporting the ongoing efforts of these leaders to make systemic changes in reproductive health. Using case examples, Mr. Katz will discuss critical issues and challenges facing RH donor and in-country professionals in developing countries and how leadership development programs can best support their efforts as change agents. Customized skill-building, time for reflection, and on-going support – including technical assistance, networking, communication, and funding – are key features of successful leadership development programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand key characteristics in the relationship between US-based leadership training and on-going, in-country support initiatives.

Keywords: Leadership, Reproductive Health

Related Web page: www.population-leaders.washington.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation