Dear ASPHER Members,

We are soon saying goodbye to 2018 which was a year that brought important developments for ASPHER, and for Public Health in Europe and globally. In turning towards 2019, we are looking forward to a year that promises to be an important bridge to efforts culminating in the ASPHER 2020 agenda.

ASPHER’s strength is rooted in its membership and we thank all our members for their continued commitment and support. We are happy that our community is growing and were delighted this year to welcome new Member Schools from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, Finland, Poland, and the Netherlands, and new Associate Member Schools from India and Canada.

As we like to say, “public health is everyone’s business” and we are grateful to all our partner organisations. By working in solidarity with our partners we have been able to more effectively run concerted actions for European Public Health and beyond.

Looking ahead to 2019, we are getting ready for ASPHER’s annual Deans’ and Directors’ Retreat in Erice, Italy, from 26-29 May, which promises to be a superb event - building on the successes of previous years' meetings. We hope to see many of you participate with presentations from a variety of Member Schools at the 2019 Retreat and remind you that early registration and abstract submission is available on ASPHER’s website.

As we move towards Erice we will be evaluating ASPHER 2020 and devising proposals for the new ASPHER 2025 agenda. If you have any reflections over the holiday break as to ASPHER’s future and 2025 priorities please do not hesitate to share them.

Highlights wrapping up 2018 as well as plans for 2019 will be included in the winter seasonal newsletter of ASPHER to be distributed in early 2019.

Best wishes this holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year to all!

Your ASPHER Secretariat,
Robert Otok, Lore Leighton & Cedric Slock