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The Institute of the Americas is building on the success of its professional training programs for Latin American and Caribbean health care professionals and science journalists by creating its "Health Innovation Advisory Council" for the region.

• Press Release Survey of health professionals in five countries about their training needs and the link with better patient outcomes

The Council is a multidisciplinary, inter-American group of highly regarded health professionals who will provide strategic guidance on key aspects of health challenges and innovation, and

*   Advise about creating a policy environment conducive for creating and
adopting more rapidly health innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean;

*   Suggest initiatives and partnerships for the Institute to further the
spread of health care innovations; and

*   Advise key potential change makers about these innovations, directly
and through educational work with Latin American and Caribbean journalists.

Institute president Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow said, "The crisis in Haiti underscores the importance of collaboration in health in the Americas and the importance of improving the skills and access to the latest advances in evidence-based public health to all.  We must work to reduce the health care disparities in our region, and our Council will have this as one of its aims."

Founding members include:

Gabriel Carrasquilla, MD, DrPh, Director, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Salud, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia. One of the leading experts on health policy analysis and design, pharmacoeconomics, and outcomes research.

Juan Ramón de la Fuente, MD, Mexico City, Mexico. Former Minister of Health and Rector of the UNAM; President of the International Association of Universities. One of the world's leading experts on health reform, education and policy.

Pedro Ferraina, MD, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Chief, Department of Surgery, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín", Universidad de Buenos Aires.  A global leader in research and development of new surgical techniques and in bringing state-of-the-art methods to the region's doctors.

Admiral (Ret.) Joxel García, MD, MBA, Ponce, Puerto Rico. President and Dean, Ponce School of Medicine, former US Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services. As the chief advisor on health to the secretary of health and human services, he managed the US Public Health Service and is well remembered for building cooperation in health in the Americas.  As an educator, he has trained a generation of gynecological surgeons and public health professionals.

Gustavo G. R. Kuster, MD, La Jolla, California, US.  One of the pioneers in advanced surgery and research who taught many clinicians in Latin America in these techniques.

Almino C. Ramos, MD, São Paulo, Brazil. Director General / Surgery, Gastro Obeso Center, Obesity Surgery Advanced Center. One of the leading clinicians pushing the state-of-the-art in gastric surgery as well as international cooperation and understanding of techniques and practice.

Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD, La Jolla, California, US. Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, Harold Simon Professor and Chief of the Division of Global Public Health in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. One of the world's leading experts on the migration of HIV/AIDS as well as research and harm reduction strategies.

Lucila Ohno-Machado, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine. Educated at the University of São Paulo, she is a world leader in collection, management, and application of biomedical knowledge and information to improve patient care, biomedical education, and life sciences research -- and an expert on both the North American and South American situation in this field.

The Institute has worked to improve health care in the Americas through its annual health and science journalism seminars; through seminars for government and elected officials and other experts on public policy to stimulate health innovation through better policy; and through continuing work to educate the public about the most recent research about the migration of HIV/AIDS and preparation for pandemics.

For almost two decades, the Institute has convened high-level groups of stakeholders and analysts to discuss improving the quality of access to health care in Latin America and the Caribbean, improving regulation and law to encourage public-private partnership in health innovation and improving management of social security systems.

Most recently, in August 2009, the Institute and the United States Southern Command, in cooperation with the Government of Panama, convened more than 125 representatives of health ministries, NGOs and military medical leaders in Panama to discuss strategies against the H1N1 influenza.

For more information, contact  Lee Tablewski