05/26/2022

Reflections from the President

Dear SAVIR Members and Partners,

 It is an incredible honor to become the President of SAVIR, a society of professionals who are committed to advancing violence and injury research around the world. I thank you for your trust in leading this organization. I am also excited about the opportunities for us to make the world healthier and safer.

I entered the violence and injury research field in the 1990’s when injury research center directors across the United States started the National Association of Injury Control Research Centers (NAICRC), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Over the years, SAVIR has evolved to become the leading society for violence prevention and injury control in the United States, due to the commitment, energy, and great effort of many distinguished scholars and leaders. As many of these leaders are retiring, I myself feel a call of duty to serve this wonderful society.

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted many SAVIR activities and programs. As the United States has gradually begun to enter the recovery period and many professional societies are planning to return to in-person work and meetings, I believe it is important for us to revisit the following SAVIR’s mission statement from the organization’s bylaws:

“to address issues relevant to the prevention, acute care and rehabilitation of injury and violence through multiple activities in research; research dissemination; program and policy development and evaluation; consultation; and education and training.”

SAVIR’s mission should always be the guiding star for us to continue ongoing effective programs or plan for new initiatives. I feel grateful to the SAVIR leadership team and Board of Directors for working together to strategically plan major new initiatives. These ongoing and new initiatives will allow SAVIR members and partners to focus on priorities in the coming years.

I believe SAVIR’s motto is “Lead with excellence” and the philosophy should be “Dream big, act with solid steps on the ground.”

I look forward to working together with you all.

Henry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA