I wish to extend my warmest of holiday greetings and thanks for your continuing support of the Safe Motherhood Program at UCSF. This past year was exciting as we continued ground breaking research in maternal health. Additionally, we've trained thousands of providers globally, educated future leaders in the U.S., and disseminated tools and information needed to save the lives of countless women in developing countries.

A few highlights from the past year include trips to work with our international partners and providers in Ukraine, Myanmar, India, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We participated in local and international scientific conferences in San Francisco, Washington DC, Italy, Canada, India and Bolivia. In October, we were especially thrilled at the positive feedback and fresh interest shown in Rome at the FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. With our internatioanal partners we gave 11 sessions which were all well attended. We recently completed data collection for the randomized Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) trials at primary health care centers in Zambia and Zimbabwe and have begun examining their results. We look forward to seeing the outcomes and expect to share the findings as early in 2013 as possible.

It was rewarding to see that many leading global organizations published acceptance of the NASG as a low-cost life-saving device. The World Health Organization, Global Library of Women's Medicine and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) have all formally recommended use of the NASG. We look forward to carrying this momentum forward into 2013 as we continue to disseminate and reach out to our partners so that all mothers across the globe are able to experience the joys of a safe motherhood.