Jose M. Martin-Moreno appointed Sciana Cohort 5 co-chair

Experienced public health advisor and former chief medical officer of Spain joins the Sciana Network

Jose M. Martin-Moreno, a professor of public health at the University of Valencia and senior advisor at the World Health Organization (WHO), will co-chair the Sciana Network’s fifth cohort.

The former chief medical officer of Spain, who also served as director of programme management for the World Health Organization’s European region, will work alongside Sciana Chair Ilona Kickbusch to curate Cohort 5’s first residential meeting in November.  

They will be supported by programme director Mary Helen Pombo and a senior advisor team that includes Sir David Behan, Bettina Borisch, Edelgard Bulmahn, Fiona Godlee, Heyo Kroemer, and Thomas Zeltner.

Jose has already had his first taste of Sciana and Schloss Leopoldskron, having contributed to residential meetings for Cohorts 3 and 4 in May.

Reflecting on his interest in assuming this new role in the Network, Jose said, “I think we live in a very challenging world where we need to do different things in order to have a better world. To make this possible, we need leadership - inspiring leadership [and] compassionate leadership.

"We need to share experiences to learn from each other and to find the best pathway to achieve our goals. I think Sciana is a magical kind of environment that shares all these ingredients which are needed.”

Mary Helen Pombo, the Sciana Network’s programme director, said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Jose Martin-Moreno. His expertise in public health and vast experience in advising national governments and regional and international organisations is undoubtedly an asset to the network as a whole.  

“His experience and insight on Southern European health systems will also be particularly valuable as much can be learned from this context. We are also confident Jose is the right person to inspire Cohort 5 members to think big when it comes to their Sciana challenge.”

Ilona Kickbusch, the Sciana Network’s chair, said, “I look forward to working with Jose - his extensive experience in health systems strengthening - especially public health - will be critical as we discuss health leadership for the future.”

In addition to his role at the University of Valencia, Jose is head of medical education and quality at the Clinical Hospital, a former president of ASPHER, and current chair of its honours committee, and director of the Stampar Summer School of Public Health.

He currently collaborates with the WHO Office for Europe as a senior adviser in health systems and public health. Between 2010 and 2012, Jose served as the Office’s director of programme management.

Jose holds degrees from the University of Granada, Spain (MD, Ph.D.), and Harvard University, US (MPH, DrPH). As well as authoring more than 300 scientific papers, Jose has advised the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. He is also a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Spain and an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health - Royal College of Physicians of the UK.