I am enormously grateful to Georgewilliam Kalibbala, Scott Fabricant, and Dr. Ronald Gray for nominating me to the 120 under 40 campaign!

My profile was posted today, along profiles of many other nominees, including Patrick Segawa - who I blogged about just yesterday. Kudos, Patrick!

It's inspiring to read about young folks around the world doing all kinds of important work. I hope everybody interested in building the next generation of leaders in reproductive health will consider making a nomination today!

Tomorrow, I leave for Indonesia to attend the International Conference on Family Planning! This incredible conference began in Uganda in 2009, was in Senegal in 2011, then Ethiopia in 2013, and will be in Bali this year. I've been incredibly fortunate to be able to participate at each one! It always re-energizes me to be surrounded by everyday heroes doing work in international reproductive health!

This year, I had an opportunity to volunteer to be a mentor to a youth attendee. As luck would have it, I was matched with a young Ugandan man who I've been linked with for some time on social media - the incredibly dynamic Patrick Segawa. Patrick's organization, PHAU (Public Health Ambassadors of Uganda), focuses on "edutainment" to raise awareness for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Uganda. Among other incredible activities, PHAU organizes dancing flash mobs in Uganda - please check out their website for more information about this great organization! Patrick was also recently nominated in the 120 under 40 campaign, which highlights young leaders in reproductive health from around the world. He is a rising star in our field, and I am very much looking forward to finally meeting him in person.

There are many things I love about working in international public health. Among them are opportunities to work with inspiring scientists from around the world (such as my brilliant colleagues at the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Kalisizo, Uganda), and to meet vibrant young people of many different cultures, especially those excited to discuss science or public health.

Walking down the road one day in Kalisizo, I met a young man named Georgewilliam. He struck up a conversation, asking what I was doing in Uganda. When I mentioned being a public health scientist, his eyes lit up! He talked about his love for science, and was eager to discuss his studies in biology and chemistry. He was applying for a program in medical laboratory technology, and wanted advice on the application/interview process. I visited him the next day after work to talk about it, and we became fast friends.