Thomas E. Bernard

Dr. Ximena Garzón-Villalba, MD, PhD, CPH, is an experienced professional in Public Health, who was appointed as Minister of Health in May 2021, and performed those functions until July 2022; Dr. Garzón-Villalba performed as member of the International Vaccine Institute Board of Trustees representing Ecuador since April 2022. Right now, she is expert member of the Technical Advisory Panel of the Pandemic Fund (WB, WHO). is Dean of Public Health at Universidad San Francisco de Quito and Dr. Garzón-Villalba obtained her Medical Degree at Universidad Central del Ecuador, she holds PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Occupational Health, and a Post-doctorate in Occupational Health Research and Occupational Epidemiology, both from University of South Florida (USF). Dr. Garzon-Villalba has designed a master program on Public Health and a medical specialty in Occupational Medicine for renowned Ecuadorian universities and has been a professor of Public Health and Occupational Epidemiology for undergraduate and graduate programs in several Ecuadorian and U.S. Universities. Her work has been published in indexed journals. In addition to private practice, she has served at the public service as Deputy Medical Director and as Chief of Teaching and Research at Quito-Sur General Hospital, as well as Chief of Teaching at Carlos Andrade Marín Hospital, healthcare facilities owned and managed by the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute. As Minister of Public Health, she was responsible of design and implementation of the comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and led the emblematic “9/100 Vaccination Plan” which reached 9 million fully vaccinated people (more than 50% of the population) before the 100th day of its implementation. This successful experience has positioned Ecuador as a regional benchmark to overcome the pandemic and has projected Dr. Garzón as a reference in her field.