Oscar Ernesto Zurriaga Llorens MD, PhD, MPH

Oscar Zurriaga, a full-time professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Valencia and head of the Epidemiological Studies and Information Section at the Generalitat Valenciana, has been elected the new president of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE). Zurriaga aims to work to continue increasing the visibility of epidemiology, broaden the base of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology and strengthen its relationship with the citizens.

Oscar Zurriaga, who held the position of SEE Vice President, replaces Elena Vanessa Martínez and will be in charge of the entity for the next two years. The appointment took place in the Extraordinary SEE Members Assembly, held within the framework of the XL Annual Meeting of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, in which the new positions of the board of directors were appointed.

Oscar Zurriaga has a degree and a Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Valencia and a Master’s in Community Health, as well as a being specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health. He is also a researcher at the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community (Fisabio). In recent years he has also been closely linked to the field of research since he led the Research, Innovation, Technology, and Quality area of the Ministry of Health. From the General Directorate of Public Health of the Ministry of Universal Health and Public Health of the Valencian Government, he has worked, above all, in the field of epidemiological studies and information, specially dedicated to disease and mortality records.

The new board has ahead of it the mission of developing the Strategic Plan 2022-2025 to increase the influence of the scientific society; promote training, employment, and research; try to increase participation; maintain the independence of the SEE and favor its internationalization.

The team led by Professor Zurriaga faces this new stage with three objectives set. The first is to continue increasing the visibility of epidemiology and, in turn, increase the value of scientific dissemination. Secondly, to contribute to the opening of the SEE to society as a whole, especially in the current context of the economic and health crisis. And, finally, the aim is to broaden the base of the scientific society and seek to integrate all those who study, research, work, or do epidemiology in any field of science, whether in Spain or outside it.

The new board also has ahead of it the mission of developing the Strategic Plan 2022-2025 to increase the external influence of the scientific society and epidemiology in society and in the policies that affect health and promote training, employability, and research in both epidemiology and public health.