| Juan Ramón de la Fuente | |
|---|---|
 De la Fuente in 2012 | |
| Secretary of Foreign Affairs | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2024 (2024-10-01) | |
| President | Claudia Sheinbaum |
| Preceded by | Alicia Bárcena Ibarra |
| Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations | |
| In office December 21, 2018 (2018-12-21) – September 13, 2023 (2023-09-13) | |
| Appointed by | Senate of Mexico |
| Preceded by | Juan José Ignacio Gómez Camacho |
| Succeeded by | Alicia Buenrostro Massieu |
| Rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico | |
| In office November 17, 1999 (1999-11-17) – November 16, 2007 (2007-11-16) | |
| Preceded by | Francisco Barnés de Castro |
| Succeeded by | José Narro Robles |
| Secretary of Health | |
| In office December 1, 1994 (1994-12-01) – November 17, 1999 (1999-11-17) | |
| President | Ernesto Zedillo |
| Preceded by | Jesús Kumate Rodríguez |
| Succeeded by | José Antonio González Fernández |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-09-05) September 5, 1951 (age 73) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Political party | Independent |
| Parent(s) | Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz Beatriz Ramírez de la Fuente |
| Education | Physician with a specialization in psychiatry |
| Alma mater | National Autonomous University of Mexico (MD, 1969–1975) University of Minnesota (Specialization in Psychiatry, 2000–2003) |
| Profession | Physician, professor, public official, author, diplomat, researcher |
Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez (born 5 September 1951 in Mexico City) is a Mexican psychiatrist, academician and politician who has served as the secretary of foreign affairs since 2024 in the cabinet of Claudia Sheinbaum. He previously served as secretary of health in the cabinet of President Ernesto Zedillo (1994–1999) and as rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) from 1999 to 2007. He is a professor emeritus of Psychiatry at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Chairs the Board of the Aspen Institute Mexico. From 18 February 2019 to 13 September 2023 he served as the permanent representative of Mexico to the United Nations.
Education
De la Fuente graduated from Medical School of Medicine from the National Autonomous University in 1976 and trained in Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. When he returned to Mexico he founded the Clinical Research Unit of the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry and joined the Faculty of UNAM's School of Medicine, where he was appointed Dean in 1991. In 1995 he was also elected President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and a few years later he was appointed Secretary of Health by President Zedillo. In 1999, he resigned his cabinet post to be appointed Rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and in 2003 he was reappointed for a second term. In 2008 he was elected President of the International Association of Universities at UNESCO and was called by Ban Ki-moon to be member of the Council of the United Nations University in Tokyo. He sits in several boards in México and abroad, such as El Universal, an influential newspaper in Mexico City. Also, in 2008 he was elected as President of the International Association of Universities.
Career
De la Fuente began his career as Secretary of Health under President Ernesto Zedillo from 1994 to 1999. During his tenure, he contributed significantly to Mexico's public health initiatives, particularly in addressing addiction and mental health challenges. He succeeded Jesús Kumate Rodríguez and was followed by José Antonio González Fernández.
From 1999 to 2007, de la Fuente served as the Rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of Latin America's most prestigious universities. During his leadership, he focused on educational reforms and expanding the university's global presence.
In 2018, he was appointed Mexico's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position he held until 2023 under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In this role, he succeeded Juan José Ignacio Gómez Camacho and was later succeeded by Alicia Buenrostro Massieu.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2024–Present)
In 2024, de la Fuente was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Claudia Sheinbaum, taking office on October 1, 2024, following the tenure of Alicia Bárcena Ibarra.
Awards and recognition
He has written over two hundred papers and fourteen books, and has received numerous awards and honorary degrees such as the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Mayo Clinic, the Presidential Award for Excellence of the University of Texas and a Doctorate on Humane Letters from Arizona State University, amongst many others. He also received from President Vicente Fox the National Prize for Arts and Sciences (Mexico), the highest recognition of Mexico's Government. Dr. de la Fuente is one of the most respected figures in Mexican society.
References
- Aspen Institute (2013-11-14). "The Aspen Institute Launches Aspen Institute Mexico Partnership". Retrieved 2013-11-14.
- "New Permanent Representative of Mexico Presents Credentials". United Nations Meetings Coverage & Press Releases. United Nations. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ United Nations University. "UNU Council Members: Juan Ramón de la Fuente". Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- El Universal (2008-01-22). "Dan la bienvenida a Juan Ramón de la Fuente" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2008-05-31.
| Foreign ministers of the G20 | |
|---|---|
| Foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation | |
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- National Autonomous University of Mexico rectors
- 1951 births
- Living people
- Members of the Mexican Academy of Sciences
- Mexican psychiatrists
- Secretaries of foreign affairs of Mexico
- National Autonomous University of Mexico alumni
- National Prize for Arts and Sciences (Mexico)
- Permanent Representatives of Mexico to the United Nations
- Politicians from Mexico City
- Secretaries of health of Mexico
- University of Minnesota alumni