Ruth Bonita Editor & Author

Robert Beaglehole trained in medicine, epidemiology, and public health in New Zealand, England, and the USA before becoming a public health physician. He was Professor of Community Health at the University of Auckland, New Zealand (1988-1999) before joining the WHO in 2000. He directed the Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at the WHO between 2004 and 2007. He developed an integrated and stepwise approach to the prevention and control of chronic diseases and led the development of the Bangkok Charter on Health Promotion in a Globalized World. He is now co-director of International Pubic Health Consultants, based in Auckland, New Zealand, and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Lancet. With Ruth Bonita, he was jointly awarded the ONZM by the Government of New Zealand for their contribution to public health. From 1999-2005, Ruth Bonita was Director of the Department of Surveillance in the Noncommunicable Disease Cluster at the WHO, Geneva, and in the office of the Assistant Director General, Evidence for Information and Policy during 2005. During her time at WHO, she was involved with mapping the advancing epidemics of stroke and other chronic diseases, and the major risk factors which predict them. Her current interests are supporting the development of national prevention and surveillance activities in low and middle income countries, in an effort to prevent chronic diseases and reduce their impact on families, communities, and health systems. She is part of the International Advisory Board for Global Health Action (online). She is now co-director of International Pubic Health Consultants, based in Auckland, New Zealand. With Robert Beaglehole, she was jointly awarded the ONZM by the Government of New Zealand for their contribution to public health.