AMERICAS HEALTH FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Senior Advisor / United States
Andrew I. Rudman Senior Advisor United States Andrew I. Rudman is the Director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute. Before joining the Wilson Center, Andrew was Managing Director at Monarch Global Strategies (Monarch), a boutique strategic advisory firm located in Washington, D.C. and focusing on government relations and market entry/access for companies interested in doing […]
Andrew I. Rudman is the Director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute. Before joining the Wilson Center, Andrew was Managing Director at Monarch Global Strategies (Monarch), a boutique strategic advisory firm located in Washington, D.C. and focusing on government relations and market entry/access for companies interested in doing business in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Andrew managed Monarch's healthcare practice and supported clients across a range of sectors and interests. He also writes and speaks on Mexican healthcare policy issues.
Prior to joining Monarch in 2014 (then known as ManattJones Global Strategies), Mr. Rudman was Deputy Vice-President for the Western Hemisphere at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) (2007 - 2014) where he was responsible for developing and executing policy advocacy strategies for member companies across the hemisphere with particular focus on Mexico and Brazil. He also covered Canada and Russia at various times during his tenure. Mr. Rudman began his professional career with the U.S. Government and served in the Department of State as a tenured Foreign Service Officer (1991 - 2001) followed by the Department of Commerce (2001 - 2006) where he was Director of the Office of NAFTA and Inter-American Affairs. His government and private sector experience allow him to provide guidance for development of government relations strategies especially for the healthcare industry including drug, device, and supplement manufacturers facing regulatory and market access/approval challenges. Mr. Rudman has a master's degree in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and a bachelor's degree in Government and Spanish from Colby College. He is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Portuguese.
Angela investigated novel approaches to immunology, infectious diseases, and public health in laboratories in the United States and England. She moved out of the laboratory and into the project management and writing space, working with startups and professional organizations combatting food insecurity and health inequity. Angela has written original research manuscripts, regulatory documents, review articles, and book chapters. Her areas of interest range from vaccine development and sustainability to inherited rare diseases. She currently lives in Laguna Beach, California.
Anny is a global biopharmaceutical enterprise builder who thrives on mission diversity and challenges.
She is the president and founder of ABio Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm focused on accelerating biopharma companies' growth by providing strategic expertise in orphan and specialty drug commercialization, international business expansion and building high performing strategic partnerships.
With over 25 years of biopharmaceutical commercial expertise in multiple markets, Anny is a recognized leader in global commercialization expansion strategies and operations for innovative therapies to treat rare and orphan diseases.
Job Titles:
- Medical Oncologist / Brazil
Carlos G. Ferreira Medical Oncologist Brazil Carlos G. Ferreira was trained as a medical oncologist at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) between 1994 and 1997. Subsequently he pursued a PhD program in experimental oncology and applied molecular biology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands until 2001. Dr. Ferreira served as a senior […]
Carlos G. Ferreira was trained as a medical oncologist at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) between 1994 and 1997. Subsequently he pursued a PhD program in experimental oncology and applied molecular biology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands until 2001. Dr. Ferreira served as a senior scientist at Brazilian National Cancer Institute between 2001 and 2015, working as the Director od Clinical Cancer Research, Head of the Brazilian National Tumor Bank and Chair of the Brazilian Network for Clinical Cancer Research. Currently, Dr. Ferreira is the Chair for the Oncology Research Branch at Instituto D'or for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro Brazil, where he leads translational projects focused on innovation and access to precision medicine for lung cancer patients in Brazil. He also serve as a the Co-Chair of the Career Development Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and a member of the International Affairs Committee of the AACR. He has also played an active role in the steering committee of LACOG since 2010. Dr. Carlos Ferreira has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and book chapters.
Job Titles:
- Business Management Professional
Carlos Martinez is a Business Management professional, with an NGO Management graduate degree from Universidad de San Andrés, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has international experience in Clinical Research, Patient Advocacy, and NGO management.
Dick's experience has been in developing productive one-on-one interpersonal relationships and effective Board relations with non-profit organizations, private business and government, at different organizational levels. Success in: creating and driving Business Development and Marketing initiatives; planning and directing all aspects of the organizations' policies, objectives and initiatives. Prior successful executive management and marketing experience as Senior Executive with non-profit organizations, service firms and associations in the areas of Federal government contracting, information dissemination, information clearinghouses, customer support services and Internet startups. Extensive international experience, including Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador and Egypt. Fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Abel A. Pavía Clinical and Interventional Cardiology Mexico Dr. Abel A. Pavía currently works with the Clinical and Interventional Cardiology Department of Centro Médico ABC. Previously, he held member positions with the Mexican Registry of Interventional Procedures Committee (2013-2015) the Academic Board Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología Intervencionista (2015-2017). Additionally, he was the President of […]
Dr. Abel A. Pavía currently works with the Clinical and Interventional Cardiology Department of Centro Médico ABC. Previously, he held member positions with the Mexican Registry of Interventional Procedures Committee (2013-2015) the Academic Board Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología Intervencionista (2015-2017). Additionally, he was the President of the Atherosclerosis Committee (Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología) (2015-2017), a fellow of the American College of Cariology (2016), and the Deputy Secretary-General for the Sociedad de Cardiología Intervencionista de México (2018-2019). Furthermore, he was the local investigator of the SIGNIFY and PARADIGM studies. He also was the National Coordinator of the Internacional Multicenter trial study S6593-006 Efficacy and safety of fixed-dose combination Perindopril 5 mg/ Indapamide 1.25 mg/ Amlodipine 5 mg versus Perindopril 5 mg/Indapamide 1.25 mg single pill
Job Titles:
- Internal Medicine / Mexico
Job Titles:
- Chief of Medical Oncology at the Beneficencia Portuguesa
Dr. Fernando Maluf Oncologist Brazil Fernando Maluf, MD, PhD, is Chief of Medical Oncology at the Beneficencia Portuguesa and a member of the steering committee of the Medical Oncology Center at Albert Einstein Hospital in in São Paulo, Brasil. Dr Maluf is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and is a founding […]
Fernando Maluf, MD, PhD, is Chief of Medical Oncology at the Beneficencia Portuguesa and a member of the steering committee of the Medical Oncology Center at Albert Einstein Hospital in in São Paulo, Brasil. Dr Maluf is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and is a founding member of the Brasilian Group of Gynecological Tumors (Grupo Brasileiro de Tumores Ginecológicos). He is the author of numerous publications, and currently serves as an editor for the Brazilian Oncology Manual. In December 2018, he received the academic title of Professor Livre Docente, by the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo.
Job Titles:
- Oncological Pathology Peru Managing Director in Oncological Pathology SAC Oncological Pathology SAC University of San Martín De Porres
Graduated from Favaloro University with his medical degree in 1998. Later, he completed his cardiology residency at the Favaloro Foundation Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, obtaining the title of Cardiologist. In 2013, he completed his doctorate at the University of Buenos Aires. He currently serves as the Cardiology Coordinator and the Coordinator of the Lipid and Atherosclerosis Unit of the René G Favaloro University Hospital. He is an adjunct professor at Favaloro University. Member of the Argentine Society of Cardiology, Argentine Lipid Society and the European Atherosclerosis Society. His main topics of interest are linked to dyslipidemias, cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis.
Job Titles:
- AHF Chief Global Health Policy Advisor / USA
Dr. Hector Castro AHF Chief Global Health Policy Advisor USA Dr. Hector E. Castro, M.D, Doctor of Public Health-Health Policy & Economics; MSc Health Policy, Planning & Financing; MSc Occupational Health, PGD Health Management, is the Chief Global Health Policy Advisor at AHF. He has an extensive professional experience of 25+ years as Chief Officer, […]
Dr. Hector E. Castro, M.D, Doctor of Public Health-Health Policy & Economics; MSc Health Policy, Planning & Financing; MSc Occupational Health, PGD Health Management, is the Chief Global Health Policy Advisor at AHF.
He has an extensive professional experience of 25+ years as Chief Officer, Global Lead, Regional Head, Technical Advisor, Senior Director, and Manager for private, non-profit, and international organizations.
Dr. Hector E. Castro has had key roles in the field of healthcare policy, including global consultant, key opinion leader and project director for international organizations such as the WHO, PAHO, IADB, DFID, UNDP, USAID, WB, Rockefeller Foundation, Access Accelerated, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GHIT in the fields of infectious diseases, health financing, health economics, health policy, priority setting, regulatory affairs, market access, health technology assessment (HTA), health systems reforms, quality assurance, strategic planning and purchasing of healthcare technologies (including medicines, vaccines, medical devices and procedures).
He has also worked on advancing access to health technologies for rare diseases and conducted research in disease areas like Pompe Disease and Hemophilia. Moreover, he has trained patients associations on access matters.
Job Titles:
- Internal Medicine / Venezuela
- Internal Medicine Venezuela Education
Dr. Jaime Torres Internal Medicine Venezuela Education and Training Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, Medical Doctor Degree, 1973. Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Department of Medicine, Residency in Internal Medicine, 1974-1976. Louisiana State University, Department of Medicine, Clinical Fellowship in Infectious Diseases,1976-1979. Tulane University, Master in Public Health and Tropical Medicine,1979. Professional Activities Professor […]
Dr. José Francisco Kerr Saraiva Cardiologist Brazil He is a Fellow of American College of Cardiology (ACC) and European Society of Cardiology. Full Professor of Clinical Cardiology in the Pontifical Catholic School of Medicine of Campinas. Director Clinical Research Institute of Campinas Sao Paulo, Brazil. National Leader of FOURIER Trial, and the primary investigator of […]
He is a Fellow of American College of Cardiology (ACC) and European Society of Cardiology. Full Professor of Clinical Cardiology in the Pontifical Catholic School of Medicine of Campinas. Director Clinical Research Institute of Campinas Sao Paulo, Brazil. National Leader of FOURIER Trial, and the primary investigator of IMPROVE-IT. ODYSSEY Diabetes and ODYSSEY Kids Trial Principal Investigator and SC member of CVOT'S evolving DPP-4 Inhibitors, SGLT-2 Inhibitors, GLP-1 Analogues and Glitazones President of the Cardiology Society of the State of Sao Paulo 2018-2019(SOCESP). Vice President of the Atherosclerosis Department of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (2018-2019). Director of Health Promotion Department of Brazilian Society of Cardiology. President of the Consulting Council of the Down Syndrome Foundation Dr Saraiva is member of editorial boards for peer-reviewed journals and Editor in chief of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (Portuguese Ed 2018).
Dr. Juan C. Samamé Oncology Peru Medical Oncologist with experience in clinical care, research and teaching. With a Master in Clinical Research and with international internships. Sub investigator in several clinical trials. Great command of languages (English, Italian and Catalan). High organizational skills and teamwork. Respectful, responsible, proactive, empathetic, high capability to manage conflicts and
Dr. Mariana Rico is a physician based in Bogota, Colombia with experience in public health policy implementation, focusing on identifying deficiencies in health institutions and project development for healthcare extension and optimization.
Her ongoing commitment to public health and equal access has led her to work with multiple underserved rural communities across Colombia, developing and implementing strategic integrated healthcare strategies based on population health diagnostics to optimize healthcare potential in some of Colombia's most vulnerable populations.
Job Titles:
- Internal Medicine / Argentina
- Specialist in Internal Medicine
Dr. Pablo Corral Internal Medicine Argentina Dr. Pablo Corral is a Specialist in Internal Medicine and Lipidologist. He is the manager of the Lipids and Atherosclerosis area in the Lipid Clinic, at the ICM Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Professor in the School of Medicine, Pharmacology Department, FASTA University, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. […]
Dr. Pablo Corral is a Specialist in Internal Medicine and Lipidologist. He is the manager of the Lipids and Atherosclerosis area in the Lipid Clinic, at the ICM Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Professor in the School of Medicine, Pharmacology Department, FASTA University, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. His research interests focus on lipids, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease prevention and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. He is Vice-president of the Argentine Lipid Society (SAL), member of the Argentine Cardiology Society (SAC), Red IberoAmericana de Hipercolesterolemia Familiar (IberoAmerican FH Net), International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS).
Job Titles:
- Member of Brazilian Committee of Spondyloarthritis
- Professor of Rheumatology in the Department
Dr. Val Feijo Azevedo is a professor of Rheumatology in the Department of Internal Medicine- Hospital de Clínicas at the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil (MD, PhD, MBA, MSc Professor of Rheumatology at The Federal University of Parana). His specialization is in biotechnology. Dr. Azevedo has been a speaker about biologic medicines and clinical research in many national events. He currently serves as a member of the International Medical advisory board on Biosimilars of Pfizer Inc. (USA) and Merck-Serono.
Dr. Azevedo has been a member of Brazilian Committee of Spondyloarthritis and the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology since 2004. Additionally, he has been a member of the Brazilian Committee of Rheumatic Patients and Brazilian Society of Rheumatology since 2010. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) and members of both EUSTAR and SPARKLE (the Eular Scleroderma Trials and Research Group and the SpondyloArthritis Knowledge and Learning). He is a board member of the Rheumatology Report (previously entitled the Rheumatology Reviews) and is a representative for the National Association of Rheumatic Patients (ANAPAR) in the supreme federal court for the incorporation of anti-TNFs in the audience of public health in Brasília since 2009. Previously, he was a professor of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine of Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) and a principal investigator of EDUMED (owner). Health Research and Education and EDUMED BIOTEC has been in existence since 2009. Additionally, he was the Head of Spondyloarthritis Unit in the Hospital de Clínicas at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in Brazil. Previously, he was a member of National Joint of Evaluation of Medical Schools and the Comissão Nacional do Exame Nacional de Cursos-Medicina (Ministry of Education) from 1998 to 2001. Dr. Azevedo served as the Chairman of the First National Forum on Biosimilars. He was the coordinator of the First, Second and Third National Forum on Biosimilars (November 2010 in Curitiba, Brazil, September 2011 in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, and August 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, respectively). Title: MD, PhD, MBA, MSc Professor of Rheumatology at The Federal Univeristy of Parana
Job Titles:
- Senior Policy Advisor / Germany
- Tomas Matthews Senior Policy Advisor
Tomas Matthews, a Senior Director and Global Access Strategy Leader, has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, where he is renowned for his achievements in patient access and Public Health. For over a decade, Tomas has established productive collaborations with governmental bodies in Latin America to enhance patient access in the region. Notably, he served as the sole liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) on behalf of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), addressing critical healthcare matters such as HIV, Tuberculosis, Mental Health, Vaccines, and more in Latin America.
While at J&J, he had global leadership roles including work in Latin America and new responsibilities including the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He also managed a diverse multicultural team with a global footprint, expanding access to essential products and services worldwide.
Tomas's educational qualifications are equally impressive, with honors from the University of Salvador and degrees in Business Administration, Marketing, and Market Access. Additionally, he has completed three renowned programs at Harvard University. He is proficient in English and Spanish, along with a foundational understanding of German and Portuguese. Tomas is completing his Master's degree in Digital Marketing and a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- President and Founder of Diligentia
Joff Masukawa is president and founder of Diligentia, LLC, a life-sciences consultancy that develops commercial business strategies and tactical commercialization requirements for manufacturers of biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapies, diagnostics and health tech, and other novel emerging medical innovations. Diligentia also offers federal and state government and public affairs strategy and tactical lobbying support to facilitate client engagement with policymakers and government agencies in support of business objectives.
Job Titles:
- Medical Coordinator of the Pathology Team at Rede D
Calderon, Lopez Figueroa (CLF) is a Communications and Public Relations Consulting Group specialized in the management of Communications, Government Affairs and Institutional Relations in the field. Rodrigo has held positions as Director Corporate Relations and Advertising for Alcatel Business Systems in France and as a Marketing Director for American Express Company in Mexico. For 15 years, Rodrigo was the VP of Public Affairs and Communications for Latin America at the Coca-Cola Company and the President of the Coca-Cola Foundation in Mexico.
Sophia Harb is a student of law and literature at the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia. She has a passion for learning and is dedicated to her studies. Sophia has also shown a strong interest in patient advocacy.
Job Titles:
- Landscape Architect in Atlanta, GA
Stephen Salvatierra is a landscape architect in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the School of Environmental and Design in 2013. He is a designer and project manager in the commercial industry. He was a part of the design team for projects such as Avalon, 1105 West Peachtree, Colony Square, and The Works. Stephen helps create outdoor experiences throughout the projects with his passion for Landscape Architecture.
Stephen is pursuing and working on fundraising activities in Atlanta through his commercial development clientele along with major companies headquartered in Atlanta such as Delta, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, and many more.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing Communications
- USA
Our Director of Marketing Communications, Thais, based in Los Angeles, CA, has over 3 years of experience in the administrative field. Following her passion for languages, literature, and writing, she graduated from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais with a Bachelor's degree in English. In Brazil, her native country, she was a teacher of English as a Second Language for over five years. Multilingual, she is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French.
Former President of the Board of Directors of the Colombian Association of Hematology and Oncology (2019-2022), Dr. Virginia Abello is an internist and hematologist graduated from the University Foundation of Health Sciences. She holds a Master's degree in hematopoietic progenitor transplantation, acquired from the University of Valencia. Virginia is the leader of the Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Functional Unit of the Center for Cancer Treatment and Research (CTIC) Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo. Her special interests include Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Medullary Aplasia, Multiple Myeloma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, and Hematopoietic Progenitor Transplantation.