Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Participate in Malaria Advocacy Conference

Four representatives from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to participate in the 2019 United Nations Nothing But Nets Leadership Summit.

At the Capitol Building, from left: Arba Ager, Ph.D., Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc., Sara Bartra Schesser, Ph.D., and Kurt Schesser, Ph.D.
At the Capitol Building, from left: Arba Ager, Ph.D., Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc., Sara Bartra Schesser, Ph.D., and Kurt Schesser, Ph.D.

The summit is an annual opportunity for advocates to learn from experts about malaria — a preventable disease — and meet with their members of Congress to discuss ways to curtail the disease. The event began with a two-conference featuring high-level UN speakers, celebrity ambassadors and passionate activists from across the U.S., as well as global health and advocacy training workshops. It culminated in an advocacy day on Capitol Hill, when the attendees were able to explore with their elected officials a variety of meaningful policy changes to protect those most affected by malaria.

Miller School representatives participating in the summit were Arba Ager, Ph.D., Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc., Kurt Schesser, Ph.D., and Sara Bartra Schesser, Ph.D. They met with several representatives from Florida, including one very familiar face.

From left, the UN's Wesley Rogerson, UM alumnus Michael Matthiesen, Kurt Schesser, Ph.D., Arba Ager, Ph.D., Rep. Donna Shalala, Sara Bartra Schesser, Ph.D., and Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc.
From left, the UN’s Wesley Rogerson, UM alumnus Michael Matthiesen, Kurt Schesser, Ph.D., Arba Ager, Ph.D., Rep. Donna Shalala, Sara Bartra Schesser, Ph.D., and Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc.

“It was a pleasure to see Donna E. Shalala — now Representative Shalala — again and discuss how we can eradicate malaria through targeted measures that will save countless lives,” Dr. Strbo said.


Tags: malaria, Nothing But Nets, Rep. Donna E. Shalala, United Nations Leadership Summit