José Luis Castro ’88

“Pace is a problem-solving institution which is well positioned in New York City, the most international city in the world. This inspired me to pursue a career helping countries to solve their public health problems.”

José Luis Castro ’88
Deputy Executive Director
International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

 

Deputy Executive Director
International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

José Luis Castro is Deputy Executive Director of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), a scientific institute established in Paris in 1920 with more than 300 experts in tuberculosis, HIV, tobacco control and other issues operating. The Union has offices in 14 countries and nearly 10,000 members and subscribers from 150 countries.

Mr. Castro has worked to stem the tide of tuberculosis, HIV, and tobacco addiction by employing principles of good management. He oversees a team of experts providing assistance to governments and NGOs implementing grants funded by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use in more than 30 countries. He has led The Union’s efforts to help countries to develop their management capacity and infrastructure to control these epidemics.

Mr. Castro spent 8 years in municipal government working in the finance and public health departments of Philadelphia and New York City. He was Director of Operations for the Bureau of Tuberculosis Control from 1993-98. From 1998 to 2001 he worked as an advisor to the World Health Organization helping the government of India implement the Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP). In 2003, he established the International Management Development Program which has trained almost 3,000 health managers from 30 countries. He helped establish World Lung Foundation in 2004 and raised more than $200 million for its activities.

He was a member of the faculty of Pace University from 1991-98 where he taught courses in political science, comparative politics, and international issues.

Mr. Castro is the president of the board of directors of The Union – North America and is a member of the board of The Union’s Edinburgh and Singapore affiliates. He also serves on the boards of World Lung Foundation, the Stichting Rotterdams TBC Fonds, and Fundación Carlos J. Finlay; the editorial board of the Journal of Health Management. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Training and Development, and the European Respiratory Society. He is a fellow of Dyson College of Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Castro earned a BA in political studies from Pace University in 1988 and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government in 1990. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Pace University in 2005 and the Dyson College Distinguished Services Award in 1988.