The Leaders in International Health Program “Edmundo Granda Ugalde” (LIHP) 2011 held a week-long onsite meeting from 2-6 May, 2011 at the Centro Interamericano de Estudios de Seguridad Social (CIESS) in Mexico City, Mexico. This meeting represents the second module of the nine-month LIHP which is primarily conducted virtually. In attendance were 50 participants from 27 Latin American and Caribbean countries as well as the LIHP mentors and coordinators for the learning modules, the LIHP coordination, and PAHO/WHO staff from Washington, DC and the PAHO/WHO Country Office in Mexico.

The week’s activities included discussions on the distinctions between international health and global health, as well as the conceptual model of international health proposed by the LIHP.  A workshop on negotiation was held to reinforce the participants’ competencies in this area.  Participants also strengthened their competencies for leadership in the field of international health and created individual learning paths and leadership development plans.

An important part of the LIHP is the development of a country project in conjunction with the PAHO/WHO Country Office and other relevant national, regional and/or international institutions.  Prior to the meeting in Mexico, the participants met with key personnel at their respective PAHO/WHO Country Offices and with other actors to discuss preliminary ideas for their country projects. During the onsite week in Mexico, the participants continued working on their projects with the assistance of their assigned mentors. They applied the conceptual model of international health to their specific country projects and presented their ideas to the larger group for feedback and collaboration. Participants will share the updated projects with their Country Offices, home institutions and other actors upon their return for further input which will contribute to their development throughout the remainder of the Program.