MELANIE TAYLOR, MD – WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Melanie Taylor MD, MPH is a medical officer with the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research, STI Program, seconded from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention. She serves as the WHO Co-secretariat for the global elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Dr. Taylor received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency, infectious disease fellowship, and Masters of Public Health at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. She maintains clinical board certifications in internal medicine and infectious disease and certification with the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM). Title: Benzathine Penicillin Shortages and the Need for Alternative Treatment Options for Pregnant Women with Syphilis Benzathine penicillin shortages affected at least 39 countries during 2014-2016. Countries experiencing shortages had few recommended options for treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Due to concerns related to the decline in global manufacture and demand for this sterile injectable, WHO proposes to evaluate alternative treatment regimens for pregnant women with syphilis.