Dr. Etienne was sworn in as the 10th Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on January 31st, 2013. She pledged to work in close partnership with PAHO member countries to extend the benefits of health progress to all people in the Americas. Dr. Etienne’s highest priority will be accelerating progress toward universal access to quality health care.

Dr. Etienne previously served as PAHO’s Assistant Director in 2003-2008, in charge of its core technical cooperation programs in Health Systems and Services, Technology and Health Services Delivery, Health Surveillance and Disease Management, Family and Community Health, and Sustainable Development and Environmental Health.

In her native Dominica, she served as Coordinator of the National AIDS Program, Disaster Coordinator for the Ministry of Health, Chair of the National Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS, and Director of Primary Health Care Services, among other posts. She holds degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of the West Indies as well as a master’s in community health in developing countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.