h1n1 Pandemic Preparedness: Strengthening International Collaboration

November 6, 2009

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Meridian International Center will convene government leaders, diplomats, policymakers, scientists, and public health officials in two roundtable discussions on international collaborative efforts and the public health, economic, and national security issues surrounding H1N1. Please make reservations to attend.

WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Meridian International Center

1630 Crescent Place NW

Washington DC 20009

SCHEDULE:

1:00 p.m.: Opening Remarks

1:30 p.m.: Session 1: Global H1N1 Pandemic Update will focus on the immediate state of this global pandemic with comments from leading international health experts on how the disease might continue to spread this fall and winter and possible obstacles to an effective international response.

Moderator: Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D.

Speakers: Mr. Bernard Merkel, Minister Counselor and Head of Food Safety, Health and Consumer Affairs - European Commission Delegation

Dr. Carole Heilman, Director of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), University of Minnesota

2:30 p.m.: Coffee Break & Networking

3:00 p.m.: Session 2: Accelerating Solutions: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Responding to Pandemics will address the international response to the pandemic, examine the development and distribution of medicines and vaccines, and explore innovative public-private partnerships that are developing collaborative, global solutions to respond to H1N1 and other diseases.

Moderator: Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D.

Speakers: The Honorable John Lange, Senior Program Officer for Developing-Country Policy & Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Former Special Representative on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, U.S. Department of State

Dr. Debapriya Dutta, Consular of Science and Technology - Embassy of India

Michael McGuire, Vice President for Anti-Infectives, Genentech

Dr. Octavio F. Pinheiro de Olivia, Advisor on Viral Diseases, Department of Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention & Control - PAHO

Mr. Greg Rotz, Vice President, Booz | Allen | Hamilton

About Meridian: Meridian International Center's mission is to strengthen international understanding and serves as a center of innovation for engaging the public sector, private sector and diplomatic community in an exchange of people, ideas and culture. For more information, visit www.meridian.org.

SOURCE Meridian International Center