On 22 June 2012 the Member States of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) attended the Candidates Forum for the Post of Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau. The following five candidates nominated for this post participated in the Forum:

  • Caroline Judith Chang Campos (Ecuador)
  • Carissa Faustina Etienne (Dominica)
  • Socorro Gross Galiano (Costa Rica)
  • María Julia Muñoz Melo (Uruguay)
  • Oscar Raúl Ugarte Ubilluz (Peru)

The Member States of PAHO will elect the next Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau at the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference, to be held 17—21 September 2012 at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The candidate elected will begin a five-year term on 1 February 2013, replacing Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, of Argentina, who has served in the post since 1 February 2003.

The President of the Executive Committee of PAHO, Venezuela's  Vice Minister of Collective Public Health, Dr. Miriam Cecilia Morales de Mavares, opened the Candidates' Forum, and subsequently delegated responsibility for conducting the Forum to Mr. Leandro Luiz Viegas, delegate of Brazil, in his capacity as Vice President of the Executive Committee.

Under the Rules Governing the Election Process for the Post of Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, the nominated candidates were invited to make a presentation to  PAHO Member States, Participating States, and Associate Members attending the Candidates' Forum, either in person or virtually.

The candidates presented the platforms, visions, policy priorities, and financial and programmatic direction that they propose for the Organization.

The order of the presentations was decided by lot at the beginning of the Forum. Each candidate had 30 minutes to give an oral presentation, followed by an hour to answer questions from the Member States, Participating States, and Associate Members.