Building the Global Network of Centers of Excellence in Public Health Informatics

In 2005 the National Center for Public Health Informatics (NCPHI) was created and the first five US-based Centers of Excellence in Public Health Informatics were funded by CDC to advance the science of informatics in public health practice and to engage in collaborative development of state-of-the art information systems in partnership with public health departments and others working to improve the health of the public.    In the ensuing four years public health practitioners, university-based public health informatics researchers and NCPHI have created a highly productive national network for collaboration.     At the same time several international efforts to create similar Centers for Public Health Informatics have begun throughout the world.   Recognition of the need and the opportunity to build a Global Network to enhance collaboration on shared solutions and capacity building was underscored at the Rockefeller E-Health Making the eHealth Connection: Global Partnerships, Local Solutions conference in Bellagio, Italy in July 2008.     The current status of several international centers for public health informatics will be discussed along with next steps in the development of the global network.