Former HHS Senior Official Dr. Cristina Beato Sworn In as Deputy Director of PAHO

	Cristina V. Beato, M.D., Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
	HHS Acting Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan congratulates Dr. Cristina Beato at her swearing-in as PAHO Deputy Director.

May 4, 2007 – In a multilingual ceremony that celebrated the diversity of cultures in the Americas, Cristina V. Beato, M.D., was sworn in last week as the Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses gave the official welcome, and administered the oath of office to Dr. Beato.

Dr. Beato previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health at the Office of Public Health and Science in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and most recently as the Senior Advisor to the HHS Commissioner of Food and Drugs on International Nutrition Policy and Health Literacy.

Several senior U.S. Government officials, including the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, the Honorable Kristen Silverberg, and the HHS Acting Deputy Secretary of Health, Eric Hargan, Esq., spoke at the swearing-in and lauded Dr. Beato’s accomplishments.

Emphasizing her commitment to good policy based on sound science, Dr. Beato said she would work to help expand primary health care and to reduce health disparities, in the Region, while concentrating on prevention and caring. She added that education and partnerships are key in all aspects of health care, and she strongly believes it is important to foster public-private partnerships.

Dr. Beato’s areas of direct supervision at PAHO include the following: emergency preparedness and disaster relief; planning, program budget and project support; governance, policy and partnerships; public information; publication; information and knowledge management; legal affairs; as well as the ombudsman and the ethics office.

Dr. Beato, whose appointment as Deputy Director became effective on April 2, 2007, holds an M.D. degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from the University of New Mexico. Prior to joining HHS, she was the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Medical Director, as well as Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs, at the Health Sciences Center at the University of New Mexico.

For more information:

• Dr. Cristina V. Beato Sworn in as Deputy Director of Pan American Health Organization (Pan American Health Organization)

Last revised: August 23, 2007