Louisa grew up in Costa Rica and Ecuador, which allowed her  to observe the enormous gap between rich and poor and its consequences on access to healthcare. During that time she developed enormous respect and appreciation for other cultures, as well as a sense of empathy and equality that has continued to inform her professional track as a medical doctor in the Netherlands. Louisa keeps a strong bond with Latin America with a yearly visit to her parents in Ecuador and a continuous collaboration with the Quina Care Hospital in the Equatorian Amazones region. Louisa is a medical doctor currently doing her Ph.D. in thoracic surgery at Maxima Medical Center in Eindhoven. She plans to specialise in surgery after her PhD is complete.

Louisa joined Global Surgery Amsterdam as the Public Relations Coordinator in March of 2022. She was drawn to GSA by the idea of working together with like-minded medical doctors and professionals genuinely motivated to improve access to surgical care worldwide. She also uses her valuable creative skills by sharing GSA’s activities and interests through their social media networks.

Louisa enjoys the excitement of dynamic work, adrenaline, and traveling! She finds it difficult to say ‘no’ to exciting projects, especially when they entail better access to health care in the tropics and in the context of team work in multi-disciplinary global projects. She aspires to become a surgeon and hopes to combine this with her passion for adventure, mountaineering, and nature.