Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows discussed substance abuse issues with U.S. officials and representatives from international organizations. Front row, from left: Rodrigo Aybar Perlender, Argentina; U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy International Division Director Richard J. Baum; Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission Research Specialist Marya Hynes; U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Senior Foreign Affairs Officer Charlotte Sisson; Huyen Pham, Vietnam; and Pan-American Health Organization Surveillance and Policy Specialist Blake Smith. Back row, from left: James Kenga, Kenya; Elisa Cabrera, Uruguay; Samuel Hanu, Ghana; Christine Lukudu, South Sudan; J. Randy Koch, Virginia Commonwealth University; Daniela Ocaña-Gordillo, Ecuador; Olajumoke “Jummy” Koyejo, Nigeria; Nazish Yousaf, Pakistan; Charles Tante, Cameroon; Salman Shahzad, Pakistan; and Tynymgul Eshieva, Kyrgyz Republic.NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Drug Abuse Research Fellows from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) met with U.S. and international experts in drug abuse during the U.S. Department of State Global Leadership Forum. VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program Coordinator J. Randy Koch organized the October 27, 2016, special session in collaboration with the NIDA International Program and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Speakers included U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy International Division Director Richard J. Baum; U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Senior Foreign Affairs Officer Charlotte Sisson; Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission Research Specialist Marya Hynes; and Pan-American Health Organization Surveillance and Policy Specialist Blake Smith. After brief, formal presentations, the speakers met with the fellows for small-group discussions. Colleagues from seven other Humphrey Fellowship host campuses joined the NIDA Humphrey Fellows, representing 17 nations.
In September, NIDA International Program Director Steven W. Gust, Ph.D., welcomed the NIDA Humphrey Fellows to the Institute. NIDA staff who described Institute activities of interest to the fellows included Center for the Clinical Trials Network Addiction Medicine Team Leader Petra Jacobs, M.D., M.H.S.; Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research Services Research Branch Health Scientist Administrator Shoshana Kahana, Ph.D.; Office of Science Policy and Communications Director Jack B. Stein, Ph.D., M.S.W.; and Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences Clinical Research Grants Branch Acting Chief Kevin Walton, Ph.D.