About ASTMH
Vision
A world free of tropical infectious diseases.
Mission Statement:
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, founded in 1903, is the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health. We accomplish this through generating and sharing scientific evidence, informing health policies and practices, fostering career development, recognizing excellence, and advocating for investment in tropical medicine/global health research.
Specific ASTMH goals include:
- Advancing research in tropical diseases
- Supporting career development in tropical medicine/global health
- Fostering international scientific collaboration
- Educating medical professionals, policymakers and the public about tropical medicine/global health
- Recognizing exceptional achievement in tropical medicine/global health
- Promoting science-based policy regarding tropical medicine/global health
ASTMH Values and Promotes Diversity
The Society takes great pride in its diverse membership. Through its elected and appointed leaders, committee structure, awardees, Annual Meeting presenters, etc., ASTMH strongly encourages diversity with regard to gender, race/ethnicity, country, and organization (including academia, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and for-profit companies). View the ASTMH Inclusion/Respect Policy.
Green Statement:
Global climate change directly and indirectly impacts the spread of infectious diseases and threatens the public health progress made since the founding of our Society. ASTMH membership recognizes that our activities, both individual and collective, influence climate change and that we can leverage our strengths to be better stewards of our interconnected planet.
In order to successfully carry out our Society’s goals, we commit to:
- Holding ourselves responsible as a community for our impact by reducing the environmental footprint of the Annual Meeting and the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Encouraging interdisciplinary research and partnerships to advance environmental sustainability within our global health efforts
- Raising awareness within our Society’s reach
Strategic Plan
View the 2019-2022 ASTMH Strategic Plan.
History
The ASTMH has a long and distinguished history. The current organization was formed in 1951 with the amalgamation of the American Society of Tropical Medicine, founded in 1903, and the National Malaria Society, founded in 1940.
Centennial Celebration Address
Read the ASTMH 52nd Annual Meeting Centennial Celebration Address by Donald S. Burke, MD, in pdf format.
View the slides from ASTMH 52nd Annual Meeting Centennial Celebration Address by Donald S. Burke, MD.
Archives
Search Guide to Historical Archives Available Online
The Society’s collection of available historical archives is online through the Center for the History of Medicine, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine in Boston, MA. Seachable online since 2009, this was made possible through a financial contribution from the Society under the leadership of then-President Ed Ryan, MD, DTMH, FASTMH, with the goal of opening the records to research on behalf of the membership and in service to the public.
In Boston or traveling to Boston soon? You can view the collection in person. Contact the Countway Library information desk for more information.
Presidential Addresses
Links to available text copies and video recordings of Society President addresses at the Annual Meeting are available on this page.
Overview slides
Download our overview slides here.