[EXTRACT]. This editorial is a tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Enrique Vega García, a dedicated advocate for public health and a leader in research, practice and training in geriatrics and healthy aging across the Americas. As Chief of the Healthy Life Course Unit at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Vega García played a central role in shaping discussions and advancing policies on healthy aging and health systems through a life-course approach. His passing leaves a significant absence in the global health community. Yet his groundbreaking work continues to guide reforms in public health, particularly those addressing the pressing challenges of an aging population. His legacy transcends the traditional boundaries of public health and geriatrics. He was not only a scientist, policy-maker and mentor but also a visionary whose work reshaped how we understand aging in modern society [...]