Jorge Motta grew up fascinated with how living organisms worked. It didn’t matter whether it was frogs, fish, sea snakes, or the human heart. He started studying biology at Georgetown University in the United States, but switched to medicine. He earned his medical degree and master´s in public health at Yale University and did his residency in internal medicine and cardiology at Stanford University. “I was infected with the research environment in all these universities,” Dr Motta says with a smile. And this interest stayed with him when he returned to Panama. He spent a year doing rural service in a small hospital, which is a national requirement to practice medicine in Panama. “I did a lot with my stethoscope and EKG,” he adds. |
Provided by J.Motta |
Dr Motta then joined the Gorgas Memorial Institute, which at the time, was the only medical facility that conducted research in Panama. By the time he rose to become its head, it had become a decentralized institute. It was during this time (in 2004) that Jorge was selected by the Panamanian Government to serve as the country’s representative to the Joint Coordinating Board (JCB).
Welcome to JCB!
TDR’s Joint Coordinating Board sessions can be intimidating for new members. The 28 members represent their countries, and the event takes place in the World Health Organization’s executive board room, with soaring ceilings, translator booths placed up high to view proceedings, and a large circle where people are placed in alphabetical order by their country. When members want to ask a question or make a comment, they have to take their country’s placard and place it vertically in a holder and wait to be called on by the Chair, then turn on the microphone to be heard. If they don’t speak English, they need to wear an earplug that provides translated services.
All this formality can be daunting, yet it is here where TDR depends on its participants – all its participants – to feel comfortable and speak freely. It is a continuing challenge to “level the playing field” so that both donors and recipients can bring up the pertinent issues and have the discussions that help TDR improve its services and its support.
During Dr Motta’s first JCB meeting, he saw first-hand how confident the donors were and how freely they spoke, yet his peers from other low-income countries, where the diseases being discussed were prevalent, were quiet. “I was concerned about the lack of real 'ownership' and participation of the representatives of countries like mine,” he says.
Innovations in the Board
At that time, the donors had their own individual caucus, so Jorge decided to propose one just for those from the disease endemic countries (called DECs). In consultation with the director of TDR at that time, Dr Robert Ridley, he proposed setting up guidelines for DEC representatives and pre-JCB briefing and discussion sessions.
The first one was held at the 2006 JCB session in Ghana, which helped to build a sense of trust and confidence. It was so successful that it continues to this day. In addition, Dr Motta’s suggested briefing sessions, which were originally set up for new members, have now become well-attended sessions for even veteran members, where people have a chance to meet their colleagues and learn more about TDR before the official meeting begins.
Building ownership
Dr Motta didn’t stop at the introduction of these two new supports. He was elected as JCB rapporteur in 2008, and also helped to initiate contributor constituencies, which allowed more countries to become involved with TDR by “sharing” one of the 12 votes within this group. This innovation began in 2009, and now there are 6 constituencies, usually paired by shared interests.
Contributing financially is a stronger commitment. It means that the country values research and will pay attention to it.
- Jorge Motta, former JCB Chair
Dr Motta went on to become JCB Chair during 2009–2010. He decided one of his priorities would be to encourage more low-income countries to contribute, including his own country. “I felt strongly that it wasn’t enough to send someone to this meeting. We needed our countries to commit money. It didn’t have to be a lot. It could never match the donor countries, but that wasn’t the point. Contributing financially is a stronger commitment. It means that the country values research and will pay attention to it.”
Under Motta’s chairmanship, the Government of Panama became a regular contributor to TDR’s financial resources. In 2008, Jorge stepped down from his position at the Gorgas Memorial Institute and consequently left the TDR board, but Panama’s
contribution continues to this day.
“When a country has few resources to do research on its problems, its researchers will probably accept a research agenda/project brought from outside. This is why it is important to have a voice on JCB. Supporting TDR helps build international support for all countries, and the increased research capacity will help us define our own health research priorities”.
Jorge’s activism to raise the confidence and ability of representatives from all countries has had a lasting impact. In 2013, the memorandum of understanding on the structure of JCB was changed to have DEC representation as a formal part of the Standing Committee agendas. The Standing Committee is a smaller representation of the board that meets twice a year to support more detailed analysis and discussions. This move makes the higher level of DEC involvement a formal part of TDR governance.
Today, there is one shared constituency that combines Spain and Panama – the only one with countries from different income levels, showing how people can come together because of shared language and values. Important partnerships and structures are in place because one doctor from Panama decided to make a difference.
One footnote to this story – Jorge Motta now serves as the National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation in Panama, where he oversees the funding of research and innovation and provides support to the development of the curriculum on science and engineering. His country has sent over 1400 students abroad since 2005 for advanced degrees. These are the types of commitments that represent the core of TDR’s values and goals.
For more information on the Joint Coordinating Board, contact Garry Aslanyan (aslanyang@who.int).