Alfonso Petersen Farah is an educated medical doctor and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

, who served as Mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 of Guadalajara

Guadalajara

Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...

 from 2007 to 2009.

He studied medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

 at the LaSalle University

Universidad La Salle

Universidad La Salle is a private institution of higher education with 15 campuses in Mexico. It is part of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.-History:...

 and the National Autonomus University of Mexico

Unam

UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...

. He served as Jalisco

Jalisco

Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...

 state health secretary

Health Secretary

Health secretary can refer to:*The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Scotland*The Secretary of State for Health, United Kingdom...

. In July 2006, he was elected Mayor of Guadalajara, representing the National Action Party

National Action Party (Mexico)

The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...

, assuming office on 31 December 2006. During the 2009 flu pandemic

2009 flu pandemic

The 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...

, Petersen took the reins after resigning Jalisco state health secretary Alfonso Gutierrez Carranza in October 2009, relinquishing his Mayoral duties in the process.