Digital Health Innovations and Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Health Systems

Jaime Saavedra is the Director of Human Development for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Bank. Previously, he led the institution's Global Education Practice and was Global Director for Poverty Reduction. Between 2013 and 2016 he served as Minister of Education of Peru. Dr. Saavedra holds a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Catholic University of Peru. He has also held teaching positions and Universidad Católica of Peru, Universidad del Pacifico, and Harvard University. He has been the Executive Director of Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE), a leading think tank in Peru. He is currently a board member of Teach for All, the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel, and the International Institute for Educational Planning for the UNESCO.

Tania Dmytraczenko is the Practice Manager for Health, Nutrition, and Population in Latin America and Caribbean at the World Bank. With 20 years of experience as a health economist, she has worked as a researcher and technical advisor, focusing on health policy, planning, health care financing, and health systems strengthening in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. 

Dra. Emma Margarita Iriarte is the Acting Chief of the Health, Nutrition, and Population Division at the Inter-American Development Bank. Additionally, she is the Executive Secretary of the Mesoamerica Health Initiative 2015, managed by the IDB and sponsored by the Gates Foundation, the Carlos Slim Health Institute, and the Spanish Government. Dr. Iriarte is a medical doctor from the National University of Honduras and holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Dr. Garcia Saiso is a medical doctor and public health specialist currently serving as the Director for the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health (EIH) at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). He earned his medical degree from the School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and holds an MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Garcia Saiso held positions including Director General for Quality of Healthcare and Education and Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Health in Mexico. He has lectured at various academic institutions and has contributed significantly to international publications, focusing on health system organization, information systems, digital health, and addressing global health challenges.

Bachelor’s in economics (UBA). Her areas of interest are related to science and technology, public health, and bioeconomy. She is an expert in digital health public policies. She has designed and implemented the Digital Health strategy throughout Argentina. She has extensive experience in the National Ministry of Health and PAMI, in technical and executive management positions, assuming the National Director of Information Systems during the pandemic. She is currently the Provincial Director of Statistics and Digital Health at the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires. She is a lecturer in postgraduate and diploma courses in digital health at public and private universities. 

Mr. Jesse Bridgelal is a Digital Health and Innovation enthusiast with a keen interest in patient-centric Digital Health Solutions, Preventative Care, and Equitable access to Quality Healthcare Services. Currently the ICT Director at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Bridgelal is charged with driving the Digital Health Transformation Strategy for the Ministry. With over 20 years of experience in various facets of ICT and strategic ICT Project Development, Mr. Bridgelal is leveraging technology to transform the services of the Public Health Sector.

At the World Bank, Marelize Gorgens works at the intersect of innovation, AI, and human development. With academic qualifications in engineering, public health, data science, and functional medicine, she led the team that produced a World Bank’s flagship report, Digital-in-Health: Unlocking the Value for Everyone, which was launched at the G20. Prior to joining the Bank, Marelize worked for leading private sector and non-governmental organizations on large scale health and education sector transformations in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Unit Chief for Information Systems and Digital Health at the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Health Action of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. He is a Systems Analyst from Argentina, with a Master's Degree in Information and Knowledge Management. Since 2000 Marcelo has held different technical and managerial positions at PAHO as Senior Advisor on eHealth and Knowledge Management, Director of Knowledge Management and Communications, Bioethics and Research. He led the development and approval of several digital health and information systems strategies and policy documents for the Americas that were endorsed by all Ministries of Health in the Region. He recently led and implemented a renewed framework of action for information systems and digital health and is currently leading the development and implementation of a framework for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector in the Americas. 

Juan Roberto Hernández holds a degree in Public Communication from the University of Guadalajara and was responsible for the coordination and management of institutions involved in the fAIr LAC Jalisco initiative, driven by the IDB Group, Tecnológico de Monterrey in Guadalajara, the government of Jalisco, and C Minds. Currently, Hernández is a project coordinator for the National Strategic Artificial Intelligence Initiative at Tecnológico de Monterrey and an AI consultant at UNESCO Mexico.

Gianluca Cafagna is a Senior Health Specialist for the Health, Nutrition, and Population Global Practice in Latin America and Caribbean Region at the World Bank. Gianluca leads and supports operations and analytical activities in the health sector and acts as the regional focal point for digital health. Prior to joining the World Bank, Gianluca worked as an Associate Professional at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC and as a Fellow at the United Nations Development Program in Panama City. An Italian national, Gianluca holds a PhD in (Health) Management from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and a Master’s degree in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University in Milan.