Washington, D.C., 23 October 2026 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center held a meeting at PAHO’s headquarters in Washington, DC, to map out collaborative activities aimed at strengthening countries' capacities to prepare for, detect, and respond to public health emergencies across the Americas.
Project ECHO, which became the first WHO Collaborating Centre for Digital Learning in Health Emergencies in 2023, has extensive experience in developing virtual learning models that connect health professionals and specialists through communities of practice, case-based learning, and collaborative networks. Its approach facilitates the rapid exchange of specialized knowledge, promotes local leadership, and strengthens health workforce capacities, including in settings with limited access to specialized expertise.
At the meeting, experts from PAHO’s Health Emergencies Department and Project ECHO identified priority areas for collaboration, with a particular focus on digital learning, collaborative approaches, and real-time knowledge sharing.
Both institutions agreed to support the strengthening of national and subnational capacities in key areas of health emergency preparedness and response, including: Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), clinical management of infectious diseases, prevention and control of infectious hazards, and epidemic intelligence and early warning systems.
This collaboration aligns with PAHO's ongoing efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response by promoting sustainable national capacities, timely access to specialized knowledge, and cooperation among institutions and countries.
This initiative offers an opportunity to expand the reach of technical cooperation through digital learning tools and networks of experts, helping countries across the Americas build a better-prepared health workforce capable of anticipating, detecting, and responding effectively to public health emergencies.
ABOUT PROJECT ECHO
For more than 20 years, Project ECHO® has been connecting health professionals and specialists to best practices through virtual communities of practice, case-based learning, and collaborative networks. The ECHO Model® facilitates the rapid exchange of specialized knowledge, promotes local leadership, and strengthens health workforce capacities, including in settings with limited access to specialized expertise. In 2023, Project ECHO was designated as the first WHO Collaborating Centre for Digital Learning in Health Emergencies.
