From February 23-26, 2011, World Partnerships hosted the first-ever “IVLP Gold Stars Tour”, which brought 18 distinguished IVLP alumni from around the world on a return visit to the US - and ending their U.S. tour in Tampa Bay!
The Office of International Visitors created a special project called the “IVLP Gold Stars’ Tour: Alumni Connecting the World,” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the IVLP Program and the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the Department of State and the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) and its 92 member councils. This special project brought 18 IVLP alumni from around the world to Washington, D.C. for the NCIV national meeting. After a week in Washington D.C., the alumni travelled individually to 18 different cities from their original visit program itineraries. This Gold Stars’ Tour allowed participants an opportunity to speak about the very real impact of the program on their work and lives in their own countries, and to re-connect with key organizations and connections who were inspirational and/or instrumental in their accomplishments.
World Partnerships was honored that its alumnus, Dr. Elvis Ahmedi – a Thoracic and Breast Cancer Surgeon from Kosovo, who visited the Tampa Bay area in 2008 with the first “combined” IVLP groups of breast cancer awareness delegations from around the world – was selected as one of the IVLP Gold Star Alumni. As part of the tour, Elvis returned to Tampa Bay to renew his professional and personal relationships. While here, Dr. Ahmedi was made "Honorary Member of the Faculty" of the Moffitt Cancer Center, and visited St. Anthony's Hospital Susan G. MacGillicuddy Breast Center, and All Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Center. Read more about his work and our collaboration with him here.
The Office of International Visitors created a special project called the “IVLP Gold Stars’ Tour: Alumni Connecting the World,” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the IVLP Program and the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the Department of State and the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) and its 92 member councils. This special project brought 18 IVLP alumni from around the world to Washington, D.C. for the NCIV national meeting. After a week in Washington D.C., the alumni travelled individually to 18 different cities from their original visit program itineraries. This Gold Stars’ Tour allowed participants an opportunity to speak about the very real impact of the program on their work and lives in their own countries, and to re-connect with key organizations and connections who were inspirational and/or instrumental in their accomplishments.
World Partnerships was honored that its alumnus, Dr. Elvis Ahmedi – a Thoracic and Breast Cancer Surgeon from Kosovo, who visited the Tampa Bay area in 2008 with the first “combined” IVLP groups of breast cancer awareness delegations from around the world – was selected as one of the IVLP Gold Star Alumni. As part of the tour, Elvis returned to Tampa Bay to renew his professional and personal relationships. While here, Dr. Ahmedi was made "Honorary Member of the Faculty" of the Moffitt Cancer Center, and visited St. Anthony's Hospital Susan G. MacGillicuddy Breast Center, and All Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Center. Read more about his work and our collaboration with him here.
These are their stories.
