Massimo Ghidinelli is a trained physician with over twenty five years of experience in international public health, with focus on infectious and tropical diseases, including HIV and STI. In 1982 he obtained a MD from the University of Milan, Italy, followed by a specialty degree in Infectious Diseases from the University of Pavia. He holds a DTMH from the University of Liverpool, UK, and other postgraduate diplomas. In 1987 Dr Ghidinelli entered into global health through a non-governmental organization, supporting the National Blood Bank of the Ministry of Health of Guinea Bissau in the early days of the unfolding HIV epidemic. Throughout the 1990s’ he provided Technical Assistance to National HIV/STI Programmes in Ethiopia, Namibia, China, and Morocco as part of the programme of the AIDS Task Force of the European Commission. In early 2001 he joined the newly established HIV Department of the WHO in Geneva and subsequently moved to Cambodia and the Philippines at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific. He moved to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in early 2011 as Senior Adviser for HIV and STI, and since June 2013 he leads the Unit for HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Dr Ghidinelli has authored more than fifty publications including articles and contributions to international scientific conferences.