Seattle, Washington—September 15, 2017—The Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA) is pleased to announce the 2017 Pioneers of Global Health Award winners. This year’s winners, selected by a panel of global health experts, are noted for their significant achievements in improving global health equity, advancing access to HIV testing and treatment, and forming new partnerships and innovation to end malaria in Zambia. Winners will be honored at WGHA’s annual event, the Pioneers of Global Health Awards Dinner & Auction, November 9, 2017, at The Triple Door in Seattle.

“The 2017 Pioneers of Global Health awardees tell an amazing story about how Washington’s global health sector is saving and improving lives,” said Dena Morris, President and CEO of WGHA.  “Their life’s work is changing the way countries test kids for HIV, creating sustainable care for some of the world’s most disadvantaged people, and turning cell phones into diagnostic tools while daring to eliminate malaria in Zambia. The people and organizations in Washington’s global health community save and improve lives every day, and the 2017 Pioneers of Global Health Awards recognize a few of our best.”

Winners of the 2017 WGHA Pioneers of Global Health Awards

Award for Impact: Stephen (Steve) Gloyd, University of Washington and Health Alliance International

The fourth annual Award for Impact recognizes a creative and inspirational leader dedicated to solving global health inequity who has built partnerships in Washington State and on the global stage.  

Dr. Steve Gloyd has dedicated his life to improving health equity by creating sustainable partnerships around the world for more than 35 years. Dr. Gloyd’s experience as a young physician working for the Mozambique Ministry of Health inspired him to establish Health Alliance International (HAI) in 1987. With Dr. Gloyd at the helm, HAI has provided direct support to Ministries of Health in seven countries and expanded access to HIV treatment, maternal and child health services, syphilis screening, and more. HAI is also leading sound global health practices by launching the NGO Code of Conduct which more than 60 Non-Governmental Organizations have signed on to strengthen health systems.

 “Steve has always championed providing sustainable access to health and was doing it well before anyone else was. It’s far from glamorous work – it can be painful at times – but his impact on the next generation cannot be overstated,” remarked the judges when selecting Dr. Gloyd.

“Steve has been at the forefront of international health since the beginning. He is brilliant at bringing people together, working in complex situations, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships between universities and ministries of health in low-resource settings,” said King Holmes, Director of Research and Faculty Development in the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health, who nominated Steve Gloyd for the award.

Rising Leader: Anjuli Wagner, University of Washington, Department of Global Health

Anjuli Wagner is the 2017 Rising Leader in the WGHA’s Pioneers of Global Health Awards. The Rising Leader award recognizes a creative and inspiring young leader under the age of 35 who is dedicated to solving global health inequity while partnering with other individuals and organizations. Dr. Anjuli Wagner is a global health scientist with the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health, and she has been pivotal in expanding the Department’s depth and breadth of collaborative research with in-country partners, particularly the Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH). Dr. Wagner’s research addressing the gap in pediatric HIV testing helped shape the Kenyan government’s strategies to scale up HIV testing for children. She led the influential HIV Counseling and Testing for Children at Home (CATCH) study.

More than half a million children have been tested since the MOH implemented CATCH interventions nationally, and seven other countries are considering scaling up CATCH interventions. As a result, the judges said, “Anjuli not only emphasizes collaboration, her project has significant potential for large scale impact.”

“I’m deeply honored to be selected for this award and to be part of the vibrant global health community in Washington State. I am proud to have served with a large and incredibly dedicated team of individuals who have worked collaboratively and tirelessly for the past several years on projects to serve children and adolescents living with HIV. We thank the Washington Global Health Alliance for the acknowledgement of our work and for this great honor,” said Dr. Wagner.

Outstanding Global Health Collaboration: PATH and Tableau, Visualize No Malaria Partnership  

The Outstanding Global Health Collaboration is a new award in 2017 in conjunction with WGHA’s 10th anniversary. This award jointly recognizes organizations collaborating in Washington State and making an exceptional impact in improving global health equity.

PATH and the Tableau Foundation teamed up for a transformative partnership, Visualize No Malaria, to support the Zambian Ministry of Health’s goal to eliminate malaria in Zambia – on a continent where malaria kills one child every other minute. PATH is leading the way in eliminating malaria through new vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics and has been working with the Zambian Ministry of Health since 2005. Tableau partnered with PATH in 2015 to provide software, technical support, extensive training, and significant financial help to end malaria in Zambia. Now health workers and volunteers have data to track the disease in near-real time and respond quickly to test for and treat malaria with the ultimate goal of eliminating it in Zambia.

Judges commented, “There have been a lot of false starts of tech companies trying to do something in global health and not working well. This is an example of how a tech company can partner with a global health organization to create a successful model for global health, corporate, and government partnerships. They’re making tech accessible to the frontline health worker, which is exciting and innovative.”

“PATH’s partnership with Tableau is a compelling example of the accelerated impact and scale that can be achieved through partnership,” said Elaine Gibbons, director of Corporate Engagement at PATH. “Leveraging our respective expertise and resources will support the move towards eliminating malaria in Zambia. This shared-value partnership will help change the way we fight malaria.”

“Everything that has been accomplished so far, and everything we think can be accomplished in the future, is really a testament to the power of building great partnerships. We’re proud to see not just how Zambia has deployed cutting edge disease surveillance capabilities on Tableau’s technologies, but how the Tableau community—our technical partners, Zen Masters, even customers – have all played a critical role the effort,” said Neal Myrick, Director of Social Impact at Tableau and the head of the Tableau Foundation.

About the Pioneers of Global Health Awards

Winners were selected by an expert panel of judges chaired by Dr. Craig Rubens, MD, PhD, founder and former executive director, Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth and WGHA Board Member.

Join us to recognize award winners on Thursday, November 9, 2017, at the fourth Annual WGHA Pioneers of Global Health Awards Dinner & Auction presented by PwC. Limited individual tickets will be released to the public in September, 2017.

About the Washington Global Health Alliance

WGHA connects and champions Washington’s global health community to increase our collective impact. With nearly 80 members, WGHA connects people and organizations across disciplines, sectors and ideologies including global health organizations, businesses, faith-based organizations, and government entities. Learn more at www.wghalliance.org.

Contact:
Tiffany Cain, Washington Global Health Alliance
206.456.9612
tcain@wghalliance.org