Obituary: Dr. Carissa Etienne, Esteemed Public Health Expert, Passes Away

Dominican-born Dr. Carissa Etienne, a well-respected public health expert in the Caribbean and the world, has passed away.

According to reports, she died during the early hours of Friday morning.

Family members confirmed to reporters in Dominica that she collapsed at her home in Maryland.

Dr. Etienne was the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Regional Director for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

She was an advocate for universal health coverage, and her contributions to the field of public health will always be remembered.

Dr. Etienne had a distinguished career, starting as a medical officer in the Princess Margaret Hospital in Dominica before serving in various positions such as Director of Primary Health Care Services and Chief Medical Officer.

She was also Assistant Director of PAHO and Assistant Director-General of Health Systems and Services at the WHO.

Dr. Etienne graduated from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica with a degree in Medicine and Surgery and held a master’s degree in community health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.

She was a well-respected figure in the field of public health.

“My vision for the Americas is of a society free from inequality where everyone, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, can lead healthy, meaningful and productive lives,” was one of her last remarks

The Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C. unveiled the official portrait of Dr. Etienne in January, who was declared Director-Emeritus on September 30, at the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Etienne strengthened PAHO’s technical cooperation and spearheaded innovative partnerships with both foundations and the private sector.

She championed the attainment of Universal Health as a comprehensive goal for the Americas, based on the primary health care approach.