A Letter from Pamela W. Barnes, EngenderHealth's New President and CEO

Our new president and CEO, Pamela W. Barnes, wrote to our friends and supporters today. She began:

“I’ve just returned from Delhi, India, where I participated in the Global Maternal Health Conference 2010, an unprecedented gathering of more than 600 of the world’s foremost experts on the issue. The energy in the air was palpable. For those of us who have dedicated our lives to improving global health, now is the time.”

Read the rest of her inspiring letter.

EngenderHealth Names Pamela W. Barnes as New President/CEO

NEW YORK, JULY 6, 2010—EngenderHealth, a leading international reproductive health organization, has selected Pamela W. Barnes as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Barnes, former President/CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, will assume her new role on September 1.

“Pamela is a visionary leader who brings more than 30 years of experience in both private and nonprofit sectors to EngenderHealth,” said Brenda Drake, Board Chair. “After considering many extraordinary candidates from around the world, the Board Search Committee found the right CEO to lead this dynamic organization as it continues its vital work to improve the quality of health services and bring lasting change to more than 20 countries.”

Ms. Barnes served as President/CEO at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation since 2006, leading successful programs across 18 countries in Africa and Asia with more than 1,000 employees. During her tenure, Barnes significantly expanded the foundation’s program portfolio and budget, from $45 million in 2004 to $150 million in 2009. Prior to this position, Ms. Barnes was COO at the Foundation, where she managed the organization’s exponential growth and created new strategic partnerships with public and private donors.

“I am thrilled to be joining EngenderHealth and look forward to bringing a strong voice to advocate for the millions of women and families who want but still lack access to quality sexual and reproductive health services,” said Ms. Barnes. “I am wholly committed to advancing the mission of EngenderHealth and to working with our partners to strengthen health systems and improve the health and lives of those living in the world’s poorest communities.”

Ms. Barnes has also served as the Vice President of Finance and Administration at the International Trachoma Initiative and as Vice President of Operations and Finance for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in New York. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and currently serves as co-leader of a global partnership addressing sexual violence against girls. Ms. Barnes also worked for more than 20 years in investment management and corporate finance, including stints as Assistant Treasurer of Corporate Finance at GTE and Assistant Treasurer at RCA.

Ms. Barnes holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, and a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University. She has published in peer-reviewed journals as well as in print and online media. Ms. Barnes is also a frequent lecturer and presenter at numerous professional, academic, and policy forums.

Until Ms. Barnes assumes her role as EngenderHealth President on September 1, Terrence Jezowski, EngenderHealth’s Vice President of External Relations, will serve as Interim President, starting July 19.

About EngenderHealth
EngenderHealth is a leading international reproductive health organization working to improve the quality of health care in the world’s poorest communities. EngenderHealth empowers people to make informed choices about contraception, trains health providers to make motherhood safer, promotes gender equity, enhances the quality of HIV and AIDS services, and advocates for positive policy change. The nonprofit organization works in partnership with governments, institutions, communities, and health care professionals in more than 20 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.engenderhealth.org.

Contact:
Theresa Kim
212-993-9834
tkim@engenderhealth.org

Spotlight on Ghana: President Obama Visits EngenderHealth Training Site

Richard Killian, Chief of Party for Quality Health Partners (managed by EngenderHealth) sits with colleagues at an information booth during President and Mrs. Obama’s visit to La General Hospital.

President Obama greets Richard Killian and other EngenderHealth staff at the information booth.

During his visit to Ghana, President Obama traveled to La General Hospital in Accra, where EngenderHealth trains health providers from across the country to provide high-quality family planning services. While at the hospital, the President and the First Lady stopped by an information booth, met a few of our staff who spoke about the importance of family planning, and learned more about our programs across the country.

EngenderHealth has worked in Ghana for more than 20 years to expand contraceptive use, improve health outcomes, and make lasting positive changes in the Ghanaian public health system. Currently, EngenderHealth collaborates with the local government to reduce maternal deaths, by ensuring that clients can prevent unwanted pregnancies and can choose from a wide range of family planning services, including long-acting and permanent methods. Other initiatives include expanding prevention and treatment services for HIV and reducing related stigma. Indeed, we work with all levels of the health system—from doctors to midwives to policymakers—to improve the quality of health care.

During his visit, President Obama spoke passionately about the need to address poor maternal health. “Part of the reason this is so important is throughout Africa the rates of both infant mortality, but also maternal mortality, [are] still far too high—I mean by a factor of a multiple of 10s compared to many other parts of the world,” the President said. The kinds of programs that provide strong prenatal and maternal care, he said, “are very important.” President Obama’s comments, along with proposed funding increases in next year’s budget, signal his commitment to global maternal and child health, as well as to reproductive health and family planning.

Meeting several mothers and their babies at the clinic, President Obama noted, “This is the highlight of the trip.”

Read more information about EngenderHealth’s activities in Ghana.