ROCKVILLE, MD, January 28, 2025 - Gerardo Lara has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Lara is a distinguished professional in the field of sexual and reproductive health, currently serving as the senior director of sexual and reproductive health, access and equity at PAI. In this role since 2022, he examines how projects impact women's health, including neonatal health, nutrition, and youth and adolescent health. He is also involved in promoting universal health by managing data to ensure equitable health services for all. I also had the opportunity to manage a project that included supervising 51 projects in 28 countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. All of these projects were successfully developed, achieving specific advocacy goals that promoted access to health for women, children and adolescents, including the nutrition component he managed.
Although Mr. Lara began his professional journey by dedicating himself to brand management, his career took a pivotal turn when he was recruited to work for a local non-governmental organization in El Salvador, overseeing their health program. This opportunity marked his entry into the world of development, health and women's rights.
From 2004 to 2013, Mr. Lara served as the country director for Asociación PASMO, where he spearheaded numerous health initiatives. His expertise in delivering sustainable solutions and achieving measurable outcomes in health care delivery was further honed during his tenure as the global fund project manager at Plan International between 2013 and 2019. In this role, he managed large-scale projects within strict timelines, ensuring impactful results.
In 2019, Mr. Lara advanced to the position of country director at Plan International, where he continued to lead significant health programs until 2021. Following this role, he worked as an international development consultant for one year before joining PAI in 2022. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his ability to deliver sustainable solutions and achieve measurable outcomes in health care delivery. I has had the opportunity to be a country representative for international organizations in countries that present serious challenges such as Nicaragua, where leadership has been key to sustaining operations, maintaining the necessary relationships with the government while maintaining the credibility and reputation of the organization with donors and beneficiaries.
Laying the groundwork for Mr. Lara's prolific career was his educational background. He earned an Associate of Arts in graphic design from Universidad Dr. Jos Matías Delgado, followed by a bachelor's degree in communications from the same institution in 1998. He attributes his success to having an open mind, continuous learning, leadership skills, empowering others and building strong teams.
Exemplifying Mr. Lara's commitment to leveraging data for social change was his involvement in a groundbreaking study on the population size of transgender women, men who have sex with men and sex workers in El Salvador. The study's findings were instrumental in advocating for new laws to protect these vulnerable groups against discrimination and provide them with free health services.
Mr. Lara is also deeply committed to civic engagement and social causes. He is the president and founder of Acción Ciudadana, established in 2016, and he actively donates to environmental causes and women's rights organizations.
Mr. Lara's career is marked by a steadfast dedication to improving health outcomes and advocating for marginalized communities. Looking ahead, he aims to continue giving back to his organization and influencing health policy positively while empowering women in the community.
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