UH Graduate Nominated to be World Health Organization Director-General

Dr. Jong Wook Lee was nominated today by the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) Executive Board for the post of Director-General. Lee received a medical degree from Seoul National University and a master of public health degree in epidemiology from the University of Hawai'i in 1981.

Lee has worked at WHO for 19 years in technical, managerial and policy positions. Most notably, Lee led the fight against two of the greatest challenges to health and development: tuberculosis and vaccine preventable diseases in children. Lee also served as head of the WHO Global Program for Vaccines and Immunizations and serving as a Senior Policy Advisory. In 2000, Lee was appointed Director of the Stop TB program, a coalition of more than 250 international partners including WHO member states, donors, non-governmental organizations, industry and foundations.

Lee‘s nomination will be submitted for approval to the 56th World Health Assembly scheduled to meet in May 2003 in Geneva. The new Director-General will take office and start his five-year term in July 2003.