Óscar 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.

Óscar Zurriaga has a degree and a PhD 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, especially 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 favour its internationalisation.

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.

The election of Zurriaga as president is completed with the incorporation to the SEE Board of M. João Forjaz, as vice president and Tania Fernández Villa and Leonor Varela Lema as members. Alberto Lana Pérez, Paula Fernández Pires and Brenda Biaani León Gómez remain in their positions as members. On her part, María Isabel Portillo Villares becomes secretary and Rebeca Ramis Prieto, treasurer.