María Luisa Ávila Agüero

Costa Rican pediatrician and former Minister of Health

María Luisa Ávila Agüero in 2019

María Luisa Ávila Agüero (born 1961) is a prominent Costa Rican pediatrician and infectious disease specialist. She is best known for her role as the Minister of Health of Costa Rica, a position she held from 2006 to 2011. During her tenure, she was instrumental in managing public health policies and responding to health crises, including the H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Early Life and Education

María Luisa Ávila Agüero was born in 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. She pursued her medical education at the University of Costa Rica, where she earned her degree in medicine. Following her graduation, she specialized in pediatrics and furthered her studies in infectious diseases, a field in which she would later gain significant recognition.

Career

Medical Career

Ávila Agüero began her medical career as a pediatrician, focusing on infectious diseases. Her expertise in this area led her to work at the National Children's Hospital (Costa Rica), where she contributed to the development of protocols for managing infectious diseases in children. Her work in pediatrics and infectious diseases established her as a leading figure in Costa Rican medicine.

Minister of Health

In 2006, María Luisa Ávila Agüero was appointed as the Minister of Health of Costa Rica by President Óscar Arias Sánchez. During her time in office, she was faced with the challenge of the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009. Her leadership and decisive actions were crucial in managing the outbreak and implementing vaccination campaigns across the country.

Ávila Agüero's tenure as Minister of Health was marked by her commitment to improving public health infrastructure and policies. She advocated for increased funding for health services and worked towards enhancing the accessibility and quality of healthcare in Costa Rica.

Contributions to Public Health

María Luisa Ávila Agüero has been a vocal advocate for public health initiatives, particularly in the areas of vaccination and infectious disease prevention. Her efforts have been recognized both nationally and internationally, and she continues to be an influential voice in the field of public health.

Later Career and Activities

After leaving her position as Minister of Health in 2011, Ávila Agüero returned to her medical practice and continued her involvement in public health advocacy. She has participated in various international conferences and has been involved in research and education related to infectious diseases.

Related Pages

• Health in Costa Rica
• H1N1 influenza pandemic
• University of Costa Rica