On June 5–7, 2005, sixty leaders from around the world gathered at Wye River, Maryland for a path breaking meeting entitled “Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health: A Leader’s Symposium.” This diverse group of participants, ranging from cabinet ministers to advocates, academics to local practitioners, shared a common goal: to shine a bright spotlight on urgent challenges in global women’s health and the critical need to pioneer innovations in strengthening local health systems to address those challenges. The diverse group focused on learning from one another and identifying areas for further action with a particular focus on the role that political lead- ers can play.
