The Institute of Medicine’s Board on Global Health is organizing a 14-month consensus study to examine and articulate the case for why multiple agencies from government and the private sector in the U.S. should make a deeper commitment to global health. This study aspires to be a broader exploration of the subject than the 1997 IOM report, America’s Vital Interest in Global Health.

Study Deliverables

In December 2008, to coincide with the U.S. Presidential transition, the committee will release a brief report outlining a vision for the U.S. government that highlights goals and objectives for the improved implementation of the U.S. global health enterprise.

The committee’s final report, scheduled to be released in April 2009, will address the case for a deeper commitment to global health by the U.S. and communicate specific recommendations pertaining to the government, academia, the public health and scientific research communities, the diplomatic and national security communities, the private sector, civil society and foundations.

Committee Meetings

The first meeting of the Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health was held on March 24, 2008. The meeting was open to the public and included presentations from the study sponsors and other eminent figures in global health. Speaker presentations and audio files can be accessed through the Meeting 1 link below.

The second committee meeting was held on July 21, 2008. The meeting was open to the public and included presentations on opportunities for the U.S. to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Speaker presentations can be accessed through the Meeting 2 link below.

Prior to the second committee meeting, the Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health held three working group meetings.

On June 10th, the committee held a working group meeting on human resources for health in low- and middle-income countries.

On June 26th, the committee held a working group meeting on the U.S. engagement in global health governance

On July 7th, the committee held a working group meeting on gaps and priorities in U.S. contributions to global disease challenges

Study Sponsorship

This study has received financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; the Burroughs Wellcome Fund; the Centers for Disease Control; the Google Foundation; the Merck Company Foundation; the Rockefeller Foundation; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of International Affairs and Global Health Security, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs; the U.S. National Institutes of Health; and the U.S. State Department's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.

Committee Feedback

You can provide feedback to the committee members and staff concerning this project through the National Academies Current Project System.  Please note that any comments that you submit to the committee through this website or otherwise, including your name and identifying information, will not be kept confidential and will be included in a Public Access File. The National Academies shall be authorized to use any such comments or submissions in accordance with the National Academies' Terms of Use Statement.

Additional Information

If you would like to receive updates about committee proceedings, please join our listserv by clicking on Subscribe to the U.S. Commitment to Global Health listserv.

For more information, please contact Kate Meck at kmeck@nas.edu.