El Paso, TX, December 5, 2011. December 2, 2011, marked the 109th anniversary of the founding of what is today known as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). In the 109 years since, the Region of the Americas has led the world in eliminating such major diseases as smallpox, polio, measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Life expectancy has expanded by nearly three decades—from 50 to 79—while infant and maternal mortality have improved dramatically. Health gaps between rich and poor have diminished, and access to safe water and sanitation have improved for both rural and urban populations. Pan American cooperation has been a key driver of this and other progress in health.