World Health Organization
New WHO Regional Director-nominee for the Western Pacific
Fifty-ninth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific
22-26 September, 2008, Manila, Philippines
MANILA, 22 September 2008—Dr Shin Young-Soo of the Republic of Korea was today nominated to be the World Health
Organization's next Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
The Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, WHO's governing body in the Region, nominated Dr Shin at its annual
meeting here.
Dr Shin is scheduled to take up his new post on 1 February 2009, succeeding Dr Shigeru Omi, 59, who has served as the
Western Pacific's Regional Director for the past 10 years.
Dr Shin was elected over Dr Viliami Ta'u Tangi of Tonga. In an earlier round of voting, Dr Tee Ah Sian of Malaysia of
was eliminated. Dr Shin's nomination is subject to confirmation by WHO's global Executive Board next January.
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Dr Shin Young-Soo of the Republic of Korea
Dr Shin, 64, is currently Professor at the College of Medicine, Seoul National University.
With over three decades of public service, Dr Shin has made significant contributions to health-related organizations at
global, regional and national levels.
Dr Shin said that under his leadership, WHO would pursue health protection and promotion measures that would take into
consideration the cultural, economic and geographical diversity of countries in the Region.
Dr Shin stands firm on his belief that good health is key to an individual's peace, security and well-being. To achieve
this, his strategies encompass nine core concepts:
Encourage and promote inter-country activities to enhance harmonious collaboration
Identify and disseminate best practices of countries in controlling communicable and noncommunicable diseases, improving
child and maternal health; and the health of the elderly
Advocate the health rights of travellers, migrants and refugees
Expand the coverage of the Western Pacific Region's activities to include other areas affecting health, such as
education, and economic development
Sustain and build on key areas of WHO's work
Ensure that WHO's plans, budget and allocation of human, financial and technical resources reflect organizational
priorities
Strengthen country offices, decentralize resources, improve knowledge and skills of staff members, and allocate
resources where they can be most effective
Enhance all existing means of communication and health information systems and establish a round-the-clock
communications mechanism
Increase transparency in decision-making and resource management to allow Member States to have access to all necessary
information and monitoring processes.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Dr Shin Young Soo
Nationality: Korea
Age: 64 years old
Status: married with a son and two daughters
Office: Department of Health Policy and Management
College of Medicine, Seoul National University
Education:
Feb. 1969 M.D. College of Medicine, Seoul National University
(Magna Cum Laude)
Feb. 1971 MPH School of Public Health, Seoul National University
(Summa Cum Laude)
Mar. 1977 Ph.D. Health Policy and Management, Yale University
Positions and Professional Organizations
Domestic:
Nov. 1978 – current Professor, College of Medicine, Seoul National University
International:
May 1995-May 1998 Member,
Executive Board, World Health Organization, Geneva
National Delegate, Regional Committee of Western Pacific Region
39th Regional Committee, Manila WR/WHO, 12-16 Sept, 1988
40th Regional Committee, Manila, WPR/WHO, 19-25 Sept, 1989
42nd Regional Committee, Omiya, WPR/WHO, 16-18 Sept, 1991
43rd Regional Committee, Hong Kong, WPR/WHO, 7-11 Sept, 1992
44th Regional Committee, Manila, WPR/WHO, 12-16 Sept, 1993
46th Regional Committee, Manila, WR/WHO, 11-15 Sept, 1995
47th Regional Committee, Seoul, WPR/WHO, 9-13 Sept, 1996
48th Regional Committee, Sydney, WR/WHO, 22-26 Sept, 1997
49th Regional Committee, Manila, WPR/WHO, 12-15 Sept, 1998
National Delegate, World Health Assembly
48th World Health Assembly, Geneva, WHO, 1-12 May, 1995
49th World Health Assembly, Geneva, WHO, 20-25 May, 1996
50th World Health Assembly, Geneva, WHO, 5-13 May, 1997
51st World Health Assembly, Geneva, WHO, 11-15 May, 1998
Executive Board Meeting
96th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 15-16 May, 1995
97th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 15-24 Jan, 1996
98th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 26-27 May, 1996
99th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 13-22 Jan, 1997
100th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 15-16 May, 1997
10lst Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, WHO, 19-28 Jan, 1998
Citation
Apr. 2003 – The National Order of Merit, Moran Medal (The Second Level National Medal)
Dec. 2007 – Distinguished Fellow of the Year, Yale Club in Korea
ENDS