In fall 1997, a collaborative partnership for nursing and midwifery development in the World Health Organization (WHO) region of the Americas was formed. The collaborative partnership included representatives from three Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) programs - Human Resources Development, Family Health and Population, and Organization and Management of Health Systems and Services- the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Nursing, HRSA, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's WHO Collaborating Center in Nursing and Midwifery Leadership.