Minneapolis, Minn., does not automatically spring to mind when one discusses tropical medicine or international health. Nonetheless, the state's tradition of welcoming immigrants and refugees from across the globe does bring a variety of tropical pathologies to the state and the Twin Cities in particular.

Many of Minnesota's African refugees, for example, seek health care at Hennepin County Medical Center. The majority of Minnesota's imported malaria is treated at HCMC. With the help and support of staff, administrators, and the microbiology lab, we were able to make

a link between trends in imported refugee malaria at HCMC and overseas prophylactic anti-malarial treatment programs. Our data strongly suggests that these overseas programs are effective in decreasing disease burden in incoming refugees.

Furthermore, we demonstrated the cost-benefits of favoring overseas prophylaxis over case management in the United States. In November 2005, I was invited to present our experience as an oral communication at the International Conference of Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine in London, United Kingdom. HCMC was presenting alongside some of the great names in tropical medicine. Now, the manuscript for a full-length article on the subject has been submitted for publication. Through every step of this process, I was supported and encouraged, intellectually and materially, by the Internal Medicine department. HCMC works locally but definitely thinks globally.

Best regards,

Stefan Collinet-Adler