Mirta Roses Periago is an Argentine physician, born on October 20, 1945, in the province of Santa Fe. She served as Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and throughout her career, Roses Periago focused her scientific work on Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases.
The Argentine physician is recognized not only nationally but also worldwide, especially in Latin America and the Americas, where she has been awarded by different institutions for her scientific work.
Roses and her connection to medical sciences
Roses Periago studied medicine at the National University of Córdoba (UNC), graduating as a medical surgeon in 1969. She then specialized in Epidemiology at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), where she obtained a Public Health diploma.
Epidemiology can be defined as the discipline within public health dedicated to studying diseases in human populations and their respective characteristics, such as frequency and distribution, among others.
Public Health is described as the concept encompassing all activities related to the health care of specific populations. These activities include promoting a better quality of life, preventing diseases, bringing scientific knowledge closer to the population, and supporting scientific research.
At UBA, Roses Periago also obtained the title of specialist in Infectious Diseases. These are defined as illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses, fungi, bacteria, and others.
The Argentine physician also trained in Tropical Medicine at the Federal University of the State of Bahia, Brazil.
Roses Periago began her career in Córdoba, specifically at Rawson Hospital, and later joined the Ministry of Public Health of the Nation, the most important organization within Argentina’s National Health System.
Within this institution, she worked in various areas, including Epidemiology, among others.
Roses Periago and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), the most important health body at the global level. PAHO focuses on the Americas and their respective health systems.
Among its objectives, the Organization seeks international cooperation among scientific researchers to promote a healthy environment.
Roses Periago joined PAHO, and therefore the WHO, in 1984, when she was appointed Coordinator of the Epidemiology Unit at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC).
After joining, the Argentine physician served as WHO representative in several countries, including the Dominican Republic and Bolivia, where she received various distinctions for her research and work.
In 1995, she became PAHO’s Deputy Director, and in 2002, she was elected Director of the Organization, a position she held until 2013.
Her place in Argentina
Within the country, Roses Periago is a member of various scientific associations, including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences of Buenos Aires, and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Córdoba. She was named Distinguished Citizen in both cities. Beyond her scientific work, the Argentine physician has received multiple awards throughout her career.
In 2003, she was honored with the Konex Award of Brilliance, recognized as the best scientist of the decade in Argentina. The Foundation is an Argentine organization that aims to promote science and education at the national level.
The Foundation’s awards seek to highlight Argentine culture in its various fields and disciplines, including science. Throughout her professional career, Roses Periago has traveled to many parts of the world thanks to her role in PAHO and WHO.
Both inside and outside Argentina, the Argentine physician continues to be part of the scientific field.
In Argentina, PAHO is responsible for protecting community health and improving the conditions of health systems to ensure rapid responses to emergency situations.
To this day, PAHO continues to operate as the most important health organization in the Americas, aiming to strengthen public health and the various institutions that populations rely on for health-related needs.
Roses Periago is notable for being the Argentine woman who has held the positions she has throughout her career and for representing the country in the most important global health organization.
