Congratulations Suzanne Petroni! Public Health Institute Names New Vice President to Expand Its Global Health Reach

[Dialogue4Health]

Congratulations Suzanne Petroni!

Read PHI News Release

http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20100204.15...

Thu Feb 4 16:07:38 2010 Pacific Time

Public Health Institute Names New Vice President to Expand Its Global Health Reach

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 4 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Public Health Institute (PHI) announced today that Suzanne Petroni will be the new Vice President of Global Health Programs. "We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Petroni to PHI. Her leadership and vision will dramatically expand our public health engagement and support in developing countries," said PHI President and CEO Mary A. Pittman, DrPH.

PHI's current programs in global health build leadership and capacity in developing and transitional countries and the areas of population, reproductive, maternal and child health, alcohol, tobacco and climate change. "Ms. Petroni brings expertise in these areas and is highly regarded for her leadership framing the links between climate change and public health. Her appreciation of the complexities of these issues combined with her passion for community advocacy and sustainable development resonate wholly with our mission to build capacity for strong public health policy, programs, systems and practices," Pittman stated.

Since 2001, Petroni has been a senior program officer for The Summit Foundation in Washington, D.C., where she directs its Leadership for Adolescent Reproductive Health Program. She recently served as the chair of the Funders Network on Population, Reproductive Health and Rights, an association of more than 60 U.S.-based donors that collectively provide more than $1.1 billion annually for these causes. Petroni has impressive background in government, serving as a program officer in the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration from 1998 to 2001, and as a special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs from 1997 to 1998.

In the new PHI position, Petroni will build partnerships and develop opportunities and leadership talent.

"With its reputation for creativity and excellence, PHI is ideally situated to provide a range of innovative solutions to the tremendous health challenges that exist throughout the world," Petroni said. "I am excited about working with PHI's diverse network of public health professionals to expand the organization's role in offering integrated and comprehensive approaches to global health."

In her Summit and State Department positions, Petroni has worked closely with various United Nations agencies, foreign governments and donors as well as nongovernmental organizations in the U.S. and around the world on matters concerning the health and welfare of women, youth and refugees, among other topics. She served as the U.S. government's Officer in Charge for the five-year review of the International Conference on Population and Development, including as an official delegate to U.N. negotiations.

Petroni is completing work for her PhD in gender and social policy at George Washington University. She has a Master of Science degree in foreign service from Georgetown University, a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of California, Davis, and a Certificate in Public Health in Complex Emergencies from Columbia University. Petroni will join PHI on April 19, 2010, and will be based in PHI's Washington office.

About the Public Health Institute

The Public Health Institute (PHI), an independent nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, is dedicated to promoting health, well-being and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. PHI's primary methods for achieving these goals include: sharing evidence developed through quality research and evaluation; providing training and technical assistance; and promoting successful prevention strategies to policymakers, communities and individuals.

- - - -

CONTACT: Cinderella Lee, Public Health Institute Communications, 510-285-5533

NOTE TO EDITORS: To request a photo, bio and interview, please contact Cinderella Lee at 510-285-5533 or [e-mail]

Media Contact: See above.