This week, during the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference, the candidacies of María Julia Muñoz Melo (Uruguay) and Oscar Raúl Ugarte Ubilluz (Peru) were withdrawn by their respective countries. Therefore, the Member States of PAHO will elect the Organization's next Director from among the following three candidates:
- Caroline Judith Chang Campos — Ecuador
- Carissa Faustina Etienne — Dominica
- Socorro Gross Galiano — Costa Rica
The candidate who is selected will begin her five-year mandate on 1 February 2013, replacing Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, who has been Director since 1 February 2003.