Brazilian Doctor Ciro de Quadros—known for his fight against measles, poliomyelitis, and smallpox—explains his beginning in medicine when he discovered that he wanted to dedicate himself to disease prevention; his work in Ethiopia as head of the Smallpox Eradication Program in Africa; and his participation in PAHO’s Expanded Program on Immunization for the Americas in Washington.

De Quadros considers that it is important to encourage production of vaccines and drugs in Southern countries. He also believes that smallpox eradication was one of medicine’s greatest accomplishments. Finally he explains how he came to be director of International Programs at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, where he seeks to reduce the gap between vaccine development and application.