WHAT:          Swearing-in of Dr. Carissa F. Etienne as the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Regional Director for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO). See biographical note below.

WHEN:          Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 11:00 a.m. (WDC time). Reception following.

WHERE:        In person: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) HQ, Room A,525 23rd St. NW, Washington, DC (Corner 23rd St. & Virginia Ave)

Virtual: (copy link and paste into new window)

Livestream English:             www.livestream.com/pahotv

Livestream Español:            www.livestream.com/opstv

INAUGURAL ADDRESS:  Carissa F. Etienne

SPEAKERS:

Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community

Eric D. Hargan, U.S. Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services

Luis Almagro Lemes, Secretary General, Organization of American States

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (by video)

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne

Biographical Note

 Dr. Carissa F. Etienne was elected Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) by the countries of the Americas on 19 September 2012 during the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference. She was re-elected for a second term in September 2017 that will begin in February 1 2018.

During Etienne’s first term, the countries of the Americas achieved several important health milestones with PAHO’s support. These included the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in 2015 and the elimination of measles in 2016. Countries also advanced in the elimination of neglected diseases including trachoma, Chagas disease, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. PAHO Member States also approved a regional strategy to achieve universal health, becoming the first WHO region to do so.

PAHO support during the past five years has also helped Member States expand access to health services, strengthen regulatory systems for medicines and other health technologies, enhance the health workforce, improve access to safe and effective medicines, and strengthen health information systems to support evidence-based policymaking and health interventions.

Under Etienne’s leadership, PAHO has supported Member States in coping with major epidemics, including Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever, as well as disasters that have ranged from hurricanes and catastrophic flooding to earthquakes and droughts. PAHO’s technical cooperation has also helped countries strengthen their abilities to detect and respond to health threats of potential international concern, under the International Health Regulations (IHR).

From March 2008 until 1 November 2012, Dr. Etienne served as Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to that, as Assistant Director of PAHO from July 2003 to February 2008, she led five technical areas—Health Systems and Services, Technology and Health Services Delivery, Health Surveillance and Disease Management, Family and Community Health, and Sustainable Development and Environmental Health.

During her tenures at WHO and PAHO, Dr. Etienne led the efforts to renew primary health care and to strengthen health systems based on primary health care, promoting integration and improved functioning of health systems. She has also spearheaded policy directions for reducing health inequalities and advancing health for all through universal coverage, people-centered care, the integration of health into broader public policies, and inclusive and participatory health leadership.

In her native Dominica, Dr. Etienne began her career as a medical officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital, where she eventually became the Chief Medical Officer. She has also served in other high-level posts in Dominica, including Coordinator of the National AIDS Program, Disaster Coordinator for the Ministry of Health, Chair of the National Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS, and Director of Primary Health Care Services.

Dr. Etienne received her medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery- MBBS) from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and her Master of Science degree in community health in developing countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London.