Originally from Ensenada, Mexico, I have been in the United States since college. I heard about MSF while at Stanford as an exchange student in Paris studying sciences. I would not become a med professional so I knew it would take couple years after graduation to obtain skills relevant to field needs.
In 2013 I decided I was ready for MSF and transitioned out of my regional business development role in a multinational food company. In January 2014, I worked in Goré in the southwest border of Chad on an emergency project in the Danamadja refugee camp.
I am currently working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - an area of focus for MSF for over 20 years. Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the country and capital to the Katanga province. My main objective is to manage a significant financial and HR downsizing of operations.
Whereas in previous years our office supported 3-4 missions throughout Katanga, our remaining active mission to support is a water sanitation project in Kalemie – 900 kilometres north bordering Lake Tanganyka–considered being the entry point of Cholera outbreaks in the region.The expat team consists of our logistical coordinator and me, the admin/HR.