David Aylward Named First Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance

Washington, D.C.

September 29, 2009

Contact:

Megan Rabbitt

The United Nations Foundation announced today the appointment of David Aylward as the first Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance — a partnership recently formed by the UN Foundation, The Vodafone Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation to support and advance mobile health (“mHealth”) initiatives in the developing world.

“We are very pleased to bring David Aylward aboard to help build the mHealth Alliance into a major force in delivering on the promise of mobile technology in countries facing some of the gravest health challenges,” said Daniel Carucci, Vice President for Global Health of the UN Foundation. “His expertise in coalition building and management, as well as his background in communications, information technology, medical informatics and emergency response, make him an exceptional choice for this role.”

“I am thrilled to apply my passion for improving safety and healthcare with modern information technology to helping the people around the world who need it the most,” said Aylward. “I look forward to working with the diverse groups that already are making valuable contributions in the field of mHealth.”

At the GSM World Mobile Conference in February 2009, the UN Foundation and Vodafone Foundation joined together with the Rockefeller Foundation in announcing an agreement to form the mHealth Alliance. The Alliance will generate public and private collaboration in support of mHealth innovation and projects that address global health needs.

Since 2006 the UN Foundation and Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership has made significant investments in the use of technology to support global health goals. In collaboration with the World Health Organization and the non-profit group DataDyne, the Foundations have funded the development and scaling of the open source EpiSurveyor data-gathering software for mobile devices that is being used by health ministries in nearly 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

David Aylward has more than 35 years of experience in public policy, information technology, and communications. Prior to joining the Foundation, he was Director of COMCARE Emergency Response Alliance, which he founded in 1998. As Chief Strategist for COMCARE, Aylward helped develop a new vision and interoperable architecture for domestic emergency response of all kinds, including: medical, based on modern information technology, broadband and wireless.  He is currently involved in a number of projects to bring about this vision, funded by various state and federal agencies, professional organizations, and the private sector.

Aylward began his communications career as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Timothy E. Wirth (D-Colorado). After directing the staff of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee during the advent of competition in telecommunications, the breakup of AT&T, and the emergence of the cable television industry as a major force, he established National Strategies, a successful business and public policy consulting firm that is in its 25th year. He has managed and been an owner of radio and satellite companies, and represented a wide range of communications, finance and other clients, most recently focusing on healthcare response, information technology and assisting innovative start-up companies, in addition to his emergency response advocacy. Aylward received a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from The George Washington University Law School.

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For more information on the mHealth Alliance, visit www.mHealthAlliance.org.

Press Contact:
Adele Waugaman
United Nations Foundation
(o) 202-887-9040, (e) awaugaman@unfoundation.org