The Center for International Health (CIH) has signed a new management services agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), and a program support agreement with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).

These agreements allow CIH, an internationally recognized 501(c)3 organization, to receive administrative and financial services, and certain program services, as in-kind contributions from two of its consortium members, which also include Children’s Hospital and Health System, Aurora Health Care, Marquette University, Concordia University Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital and Milwaukee County.

“These new agreements will enhance our relationships with longtime consortium members and help CIH tremendously in its ongoing activities and set a solid foundation for CIH for the next several years,” said Terrence Cooley, interim president and CEO of CIH.

“The Center for International Health is a unique and valuable resource and consortium in Southeastern Wisconsin,” said Randall Lambrecht, chairman of CIH’s board of directors. “Over the 27 years of its existence, a significant impact has been made on the quality of life for thousands of people in less-developed countries all over the world. Children’s Hospital has graciously served as the administrative home for CIH for more than two decades, and we are excited about the new management agreements and program opportunities associated with transition to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin.”

The consortium offers training, consultation, technical assistance, material resources and health systems development techniques to strengthen communities, their health care systems and the capabilities of their health professionals in emerging and developing countries. Since its inception in 1986, CIH has provided training, supplies, nutritional support and educational services to thousands of physicians, nurses and other health sciences professionals, technicians and workers in more than 40 countries through over 50 health partnerships and initiatives.

Prior to this agreement, CIH received administrative and financial services from Children’s Hospital and Health System, under the leadership of former president and CEO Jon Vice and current CEO Peggy Troy. Now, through the support of UWM Chancellor Michael R. Lovell, CIH and its staff will be included in UWM’s Office of Partnerships and Innovation, under the leadership of Joan Prince, UWM vice chancellor for global inclusion and engagement, and 2012-13 alternate representative to the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations.

“The Center for International Health has been among the most productive and progressive partnerships in which the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been involved,” said Lovell. “Our faculty and staff are extremely pleased to be taking on a new leadership role, along with the Medical College of Wisconsin, and continuing the excellent work of Children’s Hospital and Health System. These new responsibilities for our Division of Academic Affairs and Division of Global Inclusion and Engagement will ensure a connection to global opportunities for our students, faculty and staff.”

The direct programmatic support from MCW and its Global Health Program, under the direction of Stephen Hargarten, M.D., will provide direct benefits to CIH as it pursues health training opportunities worldwide. Hargarten is MCW’s associate dean for global health.

“The mission of the MCW’s Global Health Program is to reduce global health inequities through local and global multi-institutional collaborative partnerships in education, research, patient care and community engagement,” said John Raymond Sr., M.D., MCW president and CEO. “Under the leadership of Children’s Hospital and Health System, the Center for International Health’s work in the global arena has been exemplary. We look forward to seeing the fruits of this new agreement, which should advance the missions of both MCW and UWM, for the benefit of our partners across the globe.”

The signing ceremony for the new agreements was held July 29 at CIH’s quarterly board of directors meeting.

Visit www.centerforinternationalhealth.org to learn more about CIH and its programs worldwide.