FHI - Family Health International Mourns Loss of Senior Director

ARLINGTON, Va., July 30, 2007 — James Larry Ross, PhD, who directed FHI's activities in Nepal (2000-2004) and Nigeria (2004-2007) before being named in June as Senior Director of Global Operations for the Asia-Pacific Region, died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 29.

Ross, who was based in Bangkok, was found dead of natural causes at his hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal, less than eight weeks in his new role. He was 58. His body will be returned to the States for cremation.

"Jim was one of the most dynamic leaders at FHI," says Sheila Mitchell, FHI's Senior Vice President of Global Operations. "He accomplished an enormous amount, and endeared himself to legions of people in the process. Jim leaves behind many in FHI who considered him not just a friend and colleague but a mentor as well."

Ross was indeed a force at FHI, one of only a few country directors who served in both Asia and Africa, earning stellar reputations in both places. He had most recently served as country director for Nigeria and Chief of Party for FHI's largest project, the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN), which is also one of USAID's largest projects in Africa. Ross directed GHAIN from its inception in 2004 until May 2007, making dramatic inroads in HIV prevention, care and treatment in Nigeria. He moved there from Kathmandu, where he helped strengthen and expand innovative HIV work in Nepal for four years. He spoke Nepali fluently. In both places, Jim stressed the importance of partnership and teamwork for longterm results — and in both places, he approached this with a strong sense of humor.

"Jim was one of the most humorous guys I've worked with, and that served him very well. He put everyone at ease, even during difficult negotiations. He was able to withstand difficulty of managing programs in Nigeria, and created excellent interpersonal relationships with partners, the Nigerian government, and the Mission. He couldn't have been a more ideal person because of that characteristic," says Peter Lamptey, MD, DrPh, president of FHI's Public Health Programs.

In recognition of Ross' role in Nepal, FHI's Kathmandu office will close on Tuesday, July 31, and FHI staff around the globe are mourning his loss as well as celebrating his life.

When Ross joined FHI in 2000, he brought with him more than 20 years experience in health, medicine and international development. Jim, who earned his doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in anthropology, had been a researcher, community outreach director, principal investigator and assistant professor. He had worked in Bangladesh for two organizations — the Ford Foundation, first as a program officer and then the foundation's acting Country Representative, and then for the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

Ross is survived by his wife Cheryl of Houlton, Maine, and son Benjamin James, a college student in Florida.

Deborah Murray has been named acting Senior Director of Global Operations for the Asia-Pacific Region.

PHOTO: Jim Ross, 2006.