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About 

Dr de Francisco has first-hand experience leading work in countries, in regional and global institutions. Trained as a medical doctor, practiced clinical medicine and surgery in Bogota, Colombia and subsequently directed a referral hospital in a remote area of the Amazon basin (popn 10,000 sparse migrant population). Represented and promoted health and equity at the town Senior Council Meetings. Then pursued postgraduate studies at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MSc 1985-87; PhD 1991-1994). Recruited by the UK Medical Research Council (1988-90) to lead a field research station in The Gambia, West Africa. He established the first demographic community surveillance system (still in operation, popn 130,000 in 360 villages). Contributed to assess the impact of insecticide-impregnated bed nets reducing malaria mortality in children and defined the type of vaccines to combat pneumonia in young children.

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Dr de Francisco is a program leader, team builder, and global public health expert. He directed in rural Bangladesh (1990-1999) the Maternal/Child Health-Family Planning Matlab Intervention Program, covering a population of 1 million. Researched effective Primary Health Care modules, adolescent involvement in health and well-being, family planning integration, vitamin supplementation and vaccination. With the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to successfully scale up tested MNCH-FP blueprints to the rest of the country.

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Dr de Francisco is a partnership builder with policy makers of disparate constituencies and a fund raiser. As a Director at the Pan American Health Organization (2016 – 2023), he led consultations with 33 Regional Member States of the Americas towards the approval of regional mandates on Immunizations (2021), on ‘Women and Children’ (2018), and a ‘Policy on Ethnicity’ (2017). Launched the first regional initiative on ‘Every Woman Every Child’ with President Bachelet in Chile (2018). As the Co-director of the Global Forum for Health Research in Geneva, a public/private funded foundation based in Switzerland, he worked to coin, measure and reverse the 10/90 gap in health research financing to improve funding for LMIC diseases research. As the co-Director of the Partnership for women, children, and adolescents, established strong inter-constituency networks around evidence and advocacy.

As Swiss and Colombian national, he is proficient in English, Spanish, French and German. Has published over 110 scientific papers.