Jhpiego News Release - Leslie Mancuso, CEO of Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins affiliate, receives business leadership award

Baltimore, Md. – Leslie Mancuso, PhD, RN and CEO of Jhpiego, a nonprofit international health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, last night was recognized as a Maryland International Business Leader.

The World Trade Center Institute and Bank of America presented the 2002 Maryland International Business Leadership Award at a reception hosted by RTKL, a leading Baltimore architecture firm. The awards are presented annually to an individual within Maryland who has led their company to new global achievements.

Mancuso was one of nine finalists who were selected based on their entrepreneurial spirit, determination, creativity and cultural sensitivity that the global marketplace demands. Mancuso is also recognized by the international health community as a leader in the field because of her pioneering work in neonatal and maternal health care.

In accepting the award, Mancuso thanked Maryland for its support over the past 30 years that has enabled Jhpiego to work in countries most in need. "We will go anywhere in the world to help women and their families get the care they need to have healthier lives, healthier children, safer deliveries and protect themselves and their families against HIV/AIDS."

"As I speak tonight, several members of my staff are returning from different regions around the world where they have been working with colleagues to make Jhpiego's vision a reality. I accept this award in recognition of their exemplary service to improving women's health," Mancuso said.

In 2002 Jhpiego, working with the U.S. Government, UNICEF and other international agencies, help rebuild Afghanistan's midwifery practice to improve access to safe childbirth services. Mancuso's leadership also led to the selection of Jhpiego as part of a consortium of Johns Hopkins affiliates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop model training and service delivery programs for the Global AIDS Program.

"Jhpiego has a legacy of building strong training and health service delivery programs in collaboration with partnerships with public and private organizations. I hope to continue that tradition by working with the World Trade Center Institute to help find and implement solutions to improve the health and well being of people in need," Mancuso said.

Jhpiego is a flagship nonprofit international health organization dedicated to improving health services in developing counties, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS, maternal and neonatal health and reproductive health overall.

Jhpiego currently operates programs in more than 30 developing nations. Activities are implemented by nearly 400 Baltimore and overseas staff which includes nurses, midwives and physicians. Jhpiego works through collaborative partnerships and public and private organizations as well as local communities worldwide. These organizations include the World Health Organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development and HHS's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About Jhpiego
For 35 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance improvement approaches.