PAN AMERICAN HOSPITAL CORP history

In 1890 the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, DC., had established the International Union of American Republics ( today the Organization of American States) for the initial purpose of collecting and disseminating commercial information.

The need to control the spread of epidemics from one country to another to protect people's health and countries' economies led to the creation in December 1902 of what is today known as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Second International Sanitary Convention, which took place in October 1905 again at the New Willard Hotel in Washington, DC., continued to stress the importance of yellow fever, noting the success of control campaigns in Cuba, the Panama Canal Zone and Mexico.

The Third International Sanitary Convention was held in Mexico City in December 1907.

The Sixth International Sanitary Conference of the American republics met in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 12 to 20 December 1920, and elected the United States Surgeon General, Doctor Hugh S. Cumming, to head the Bureau, changing the title of his office from Chairman to Director.

The fundamental role of the Bureau in information exchange with the countries of the Regions explain the importance given to what was at first called the Bolet�n Panamericano de Sanidad, whose maiden issue appeared in May 1922.

In keeping with the Bureau"s quintessential role as clearinghouse of health information, the Director beginning with his annual report in 1924, summarized the known health conditions in the countries.

It drafted the "Constitution and Status of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau" which were approved in 1934 by the Ninth Pan American Sanitary Conference It followed that the Eight Conference, convening in Lima in 1927, established a Directing Council to meet every year to 18 months and to consist of officer and members of the Pan American Sanitary Conference.

At the start of the decade and during the entire interval between the two world wars, three international health entities coexisted: the Office International d"Hygi�ne Publique, the health Section of the League of Nations established in London in 1929, and the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

It drafted the "Constitution and Status of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau" which were approved in 1934 by the Ninth Pan American Sanitary Conference

At their Third Pan American Conference, meeting in Washington DC, in April 1936, the National Directors of Health debated a subject that was to have increasing importance in later years: local health system.

The emergence of other international agencies dealing with health prompted the Third Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in January 1942, to adopt two telling resolutions.

In February 1946, the United Nations Economic and Social Council made arrangements for convening a Technical Preparatory Committee for the International Health Conference, the purpose of which would be to create the international health organization.

These instructions were followed, the first meeting of the newly constituted Directing Council being held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September-October 1947.

The Council drafted a proposal agreement with WHO that was submitted to the First World Health Assembly in Geneva in 1948, which approved it.

On 24 May 1949, the first Director-General of WHO Doctor Brock Chisholm, and the Director of the Bureau, Doctor Soper, signed an agreement formally establishing the relationships between the two organizations.

The Pan American Foot -and- Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA) was established in Rio de Janeiro in 1951 as an hemispheric entity for cooperation in the fight against foot - and - mouth disease.

It is intended that the Corporation be treated as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and notice shall be given to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate as provided in Section 508(a) of said Code.

The Pan American Zoonoses Center (CEPANZO) began operations in Buenos Aires in 1956 to promote and strengthen activities against zoonoses in the Americas.

In 1961, the Director recognized that it is now evident that a long-range research program coordinated by PAHO is needed.

The Latin American Center for Perinatology and Human Development was established in 1970 in Montevideo with a focus on investigation and application of new methods of pregnancy, delivery and the purpuerium, and in the first 30 days of life.

The oil crisis that began in 1973 triggered continuing inflation and affected economies throughout the world.

The XIX Pan American Sanitary Conference, meeting in September 1974, elected Doctor Hector R. Acu�a, of Mexico, to serve as Director of the Organization.

Gardner had been instrumental in helping to organize the European Group for Rapid Laboratory Viral Diagnosis (EGRLVD). In August of 1976 McIntosh phoned Doctor Stanley Plotkin in Philadelphia to discuss the concept of forming a North American Provisional Group for Rapid Viral Diagnosis.

A subcommittee meeting of the FDA will occur January 24 and 25th 1977 discussing standards of biological reagents.

On April 27, 1978 members of the executive including Ken McIntosh, Max Chernesky, Stan Plotkin, and Catherine Wilfert met with Harvey Friedman in New York City.

Eight years after the Americas had wiped out smallpox, the World Health Organization announced the global eradication of the disease in 1979.

In the spring of 1980 Doctor G.D. Hsiung convened an ASM Symposium in Miami entitled ‘Clinical Virology Experiences with New and Standard Methods for Isolation and Characterization of Viruses’. Several members of PAGRVD participated.

No sooner had one disease been vanquished, however, than another one that would prove devastating beyond calculation appeared: in 1981, scientist identified a new threat to human health -Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

A Plan for Priority Health Needs in central America and Panama was adopted by the Ministers of Health of that sub region in March 1984.

The first CVS was held in Clearwater, Florida April 22–24, 1985.

2ND ANNUAL CLINICAL VIROLOGY SYMPOSIUM (APRIL 21–23, 1986)

Joseph Waner was the newsletter editor and ensured that the news regarding PAGRVD and the CVS would have joint annual meetings in Florida for the coming years, (Joseph Waner’s letter to Steven Specter on May 28, 1987).

5TH ANNUAL CLINICAL VIROLOGY SYMPOSIUM (APRIL 30–MAY 1, 1989)

6TH ANNUAL CLINICAL VIROLOGY SYMPOSIUM (APRIL 29–MAY 2, 1990)

7TH ANNUAL CLINICAL VIROLOGY SYMPOSIUM (APRIL 28–MAY 1, 1991)

8th Annual Clinical Virology Symposium (May 17–20, 1992)

Stanley Plotkin, another of the founding fathers of the PAGRVD and the Group’s second President, wrote to Max Chernesky on May 16, 1994 citing Max’s article and offering his opinion that PAGRVD should be retained as the Group’s name.

A motion to change the name of the Group was made at the Annual General Meeting, May, 1, 1995 by the President, Steven Specter.

13th ANNUAL CLINICAL VIROLOGY SYMPOSIUM ( APRIL 27–30, 1997)

In 1998 a new tradition was begun the Saturday night between the Workshop and the CVS. A softball game and barbecue was held at a near by park.