Welcome from Dean Michael J. Klag

High fertility in the context of poverty underlies some of the most pressing problems of our time: from food security, to emerging diseases, to global warming. Despite these issues, the need for family planning has been relatively ignored for the last eight years.

This conference is a wonderful symbol that family planning is back on the agenda. Great minds from all over the world are coming together to learn from each other and plot a new path.

I look forward to attending and working with all to address this important public health issue.

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, is the dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md., USA.