BIREME Bulletin n° 41

BIREME’s Scientific Committee has new members for 2020-2022

The Scientific Committee, which together with the Advisory Committee of the Latin American Center for Health Sciences Information (BIREME), characterizes the Center’s Governance Committees, in the context of its new institutional framework, now has seven new members for one three-year term, that is, from 2020 to 2022. Both Committees perform advisory functions to the Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), regarding the programmatic, managerial and technical cooperation functions of the Center.

The new members were selected considering their performance profiles and experience in specific areas to provide recommendations within the scope of the Scientific Committee, whose selection process was attended by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., Assistant Director of PAHO/WHO and Interim Director of the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH, its acronym in English), which was approved by the Director of PAHO, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne. The official invitation was then made to the new members and specialists, who finally agreed to participate and contribute. Thus, the Scientific Committee of the Center is currently comprised of the following members (in alphabetical order by surname):

Name Area of expertise Country
Barreto, Jorge Evidence-Informed Health Brazil
Cabezas, Cesar Augusto Scientific Research Peru
Mons, Barend Information Technology Netherlands
Pozza Urnau Silva, Alexandre Development, Operation and Financing for BIREME’s Projects, Products and Services Brazil
Sánchez Pereya, Antonio Scientific Communication Mexico
Tarascow, Fabio Education Argentina
Wilson, Amanda Information Management USA

The next session of the BIREME Scientific Committee is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2020, when the new members will take office. On this occasion, they will be able to learn more about BIREME’s technical cooperation program, its products and services in information management and scientific communication, in addition to the elements that characterize its management and institutionality and the hierarchical structure composed of its leadership and collaborators.

cc_destaqueBIREME is honored by the commitment of these specialists, from whom it is expected to receive effective recommendations for the institutional strengthening of BIREME/PAHO/WHO, through the assessment of and contributions to innovation of its products and services, in addition to contributing to give visibility to the technical cooperation program for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

On the new BIREME/PAHO/WHO institutional framework

According to the new institutional framework of the Latin American Center for Information in Health Sciences (BIREME), in force since January 2010, it defines in its Statute the governance structure, which establishes the Advisory and Scientific Committees to perform advisory functions to the Director of PAHO/WHO, with regard to the programmatic, managerial and technical cooperation functions of the Center.

According to the said Statute, the Scientific Committee is appointed by the Advisory Committee for three-year terms. The Committee is composed of at least five international experts, appointed for their recognized competence in scientific research, information management and knowledge in health, scientific and technical communication in health, and their knowledge in the areas of research, ethics, development, operations and financing.

BIREME’s Governance Committees meet once a year and during the sessions the progress of the Center’s Biannual Work Plans (BWP), its Products and Services, the implementation of the new institutionality, and the effective results and challenges that impact its sustainability are presented. Then, members provide recommendations that are recorded in an official report that is shared with the Director of PAHO/WHO for consideration and knowledge.

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