The Boomer Who’s Standing Between You and the Swine Flu
That boomer would be Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization.
Here’s some information about her. Chan is from the People’s Republic of China and earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She joined the Hong Kong Department of Health in 1978, where her career in public health began. In 1994, Chan was appointed director of health of Hong Kong, where she effectively managed outbreaks of avian influenza and of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In 2003, Chan joined WHO as director of the Department for Protection of the Human Environment. Chan was appointed to the post of Director-General in 2006.
Here’s what colleagues have to say about Margaret Chan:
Dr. Jim Yong Kim, incoming president of Dartmouth College, who recruited Chan when he worked at WHO: “I couldn’t imagine the world in better hands. This is someone who is cool under fire.”
Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: called Chan the “perfect” WHO chief for the current crisis. “She’s a good leader in general, and she’s a good leader in a crisis.”
Photo: AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini
May 1st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I’m feeling much better knowing that we have competent people like her in high places.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Wow! She’s from my alma mater so the world is in good hands (I hope)
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I hope leaders are making the correct decisions on Swine Flu.
I was very surprised travel from Mexico to other countries wasn’t restricted. I hope, looking back, that wasn’t a mistake.
Rita at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide