About The Forum and
Division of Policy Translation and Leadership Development

In the 21st Century, decisions about health issues require intense cooperation and understanding between scientific experts and those in a position to make and implement policy decisions affecting populations worldwide. The Forum at Harvard School of Public Health hopes to provide decision-makers with a global platform to discuss policy choices and scientific controversies, allowing participants to leverage their collective knowledge.

Please sign up to join this effort and feel free to suggest health issues of pressing concern that might be examined by The Forum.

The Forum Leadership Team

• Robert J. Blendon is Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard School of Public Health. He is Senior Associate Dean, directing HSPH's new Division of Policy Translation and Leadership Development. Between 1987 and 1996 he served as Chairman of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Blendon also directs the Harvard Opinion Research Program, which focuses on bettering an understanding of public and voters' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about major domestic public policy issues, and was the 2008 recipient of the Warren J. Mitofsky Award for Excellence in Public Opinion Research. He is a co-author of the recently published American Public Opinion and Health Care.
• Jennifer Leaning is Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights and Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Leaning currently serves on the boards of the Humane Society of the United States and the Massachusetts Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, and has served in the past on the boards of Physicians for Human Rights (an organization she helped found), Oxfam America, and Physicians for Social Responsibility. She has also participated in an advisory capacity to the leadership of Amnesty International and MSF Holland. For The Forum at Harvard School of Public Health, she will serve as consultant and participant on global health issues.
• Jay Winsten is Associate Dean for Health Communication, Frank Stanton Center Director for the Center for Health Communication at Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Winsten is best known for his work in social marketing, spearheading high-profile national social campaigns on designated driving, youth violence, and youth mentoring. He also serves as Senior Communications Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria. For the Forum, he will serve as Chair, The Forum Program Planning Committee.

Expert Participants

More information about leading experts that have participated in Forum events is also available.