PAHO Awards to Latin American Physicians, Scholars, Researchers
Washington, D.C., September 27, 2005 (PAHO)—Three Latin American physicians, scholars and researchers were this year's recipients of Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) awards in the fields of medicine, health care and bioethics.
The awards – to physicians and researchers from Chile, Argentina and Cuba – were given during the 46th Directing Council, the annual meeting of health ministers from the Americas taking place this week at PAHO's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Directing Council, made up of the health ministers of the Americas, is one of PAHO's governing bodies.
The awards and the 2005 winners are:
- Chilean physician Dr. Ricardo Uauy received the Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health. This award was created in 1978. It recognizes and encourages excellence and leadership in health among persons working in the Americas and persons who produce ideas and work of regional significance. It is awarded by PAHO and PAHEF. The award was given for his significant commitment to international nutrition in his native country of Chile and for his commitment to Latin America and beyond during a career spanning more than three decades.
Dr. Antonia Novello, Commissioner of Health for the State of New York State and former U.S. Surgeon General, presented a certificate of honor and cash prize to Dr. Uauy on behalf of the Board of Trustees of PAHEF, calling him "one of the most eminent and distinguished scientists in international nutrition in the world." Last year's winner was Dr. Eduardo Salazar-Lindo of Peru. - Argentine physician and researcher Dr. Patricia Sorokin received the Manuel Velasco Suárez Bioethics Award. She is the fourth winner since the award was created in 2002. The award, as is the case with Dr. Sorokin, stimulates young scholars in the development of their capacities for bioethical analysis. Given by PAHO and PAHEF, this award was named after Mexican physician, scholar and researcher Dr. Manuel Velasco Suárez, founder of Mexico's National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, and of the Mexican National Bioethics Commission. Ms. Jess Gersky, executive director of PAHEF, congratulated Prof. Sorokin for being awarded this major grant in the field of bioethics in the Americas, noting that "Bioethics is an emerging discipline in health with moral implications extending to highly diverse areas, health care, public health and social sciences. Professor Sorokin is a young scholar leading bioethics efforts in Latin America. We welcome her to our inter-American health family." Last year's winner was Dr. Maria Graciela de Ortúzar, also of Argentina.
- Cuban physician Dr. Francisco Rojas Ochoa received the PAHO Award for Administration. This award was created in 1969. Dr. Rojas Ochoa was given the award for his "outstanding contribution, during his professional career, to the development of the Administration of Health Programs and Services in his country, Cuba, and in several regions of the Americas and, particularly, for his outstanding contribution to the training of various generations of public health leaders and professionals." Last year's winner was Brazilian physician and researcher Dr. Gastăo de Souza Campos of Brazil.
The Ministers of Health of all the countries of the Americas hold their annual meeting at PAHO's headquarters to analyze the health situation in the region and adopt key resolutions on important public health problems.
PAHO was established in 1902 and is the world's oldest public health organization. PAHO works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of people of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).
PAHO Member States today include all 35 countries in the Americas. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States. Portugal and Spain are Observer States, and Puerto Rico is an Associate Member.
For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459.