WHO Names West Pacific Regional Director-Nominee

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

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