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Mary Lou Valdez appointed as PAHO/WHO

Deputy Director

FEBRUARY 4, 2020 LEAVE A COMMENT

Washington, D.C., 4 February 2020 (PAHO/WHO) – Ms. Mary Lou Valdez of the United States of America has
been appointed as the new Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Regional Office for
the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ms. Valdez assumed PAHO/WHO’s second-highest post, with a portfolio that comprises Secretary to the Governing
Bodies of the Organization, including the Pan American Sanitary Conference, the Directing Council, and the Executive
Committee; and oversight of official relations with the Governments of Canada, Puerto Rico and the United States of
America. She will also serve as a member of the Organization’s Executive Management.

In addition, she will have direct supervision of the Departments of planning and budget; external relations, partnerships
and resource mobilization; and communications as well as the Offices of governing bodies and equity, gender and
cultural diversity. The independent Offices of Ethics, the Ombudsman and Investigations will be under the
administrative jurisdiction of the Deputy Director. The Publications and Languages teams will also be part of Ms.
Valdez’s portfolio.

“I am eagerly looking forward to working alongside Ms. Valdez towards our shared goal of ensuring health for all in the
Americas”, said PAHO/WHO Director Carissa F. Etienne. “We are confident that her extensive experience in the field
of public health will be a great asset to us here at PAHO.”

“I am excited to join PAHO with its long history of health leadership in the Americas and globally,” said Ms. Valdez. “I
look forward to increasing our collaboration with partners to advance public health in our Region.”

Prior to joining PAHO/WHO, Ms. Valdez served as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Associate
Commissioner for Diplomacy and Partnerships in the Office of Global Policy and Strategy. She joined the FDA in 2009
as the Associate Commissioner for International Programs.