Employee Ambassador Spotlight: Sarah Aiosa

I am an SVP & President of Latin America (LATAM) for MSD, and I have been with the company since 2016. I am honored to be the first woman to serve as president, as well as the first Latina, in the company’s history to lead this region. Each day, I am driven by a passion to transform health care and to help people live healthier and better lives.

In my free time, I enjoy being with my family and engaging with my community, specifically serving on the Board of Directors for the Council of the Americas as well as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

1. Could you explain your current role and what drew you to a career in health care?

As president of LATAM, I regularly collaborate with different stakeholders, across the public and private sectors, to build more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable health systems. Currently, I oversee the strategic direction and manage operations for the company’s Human Health business, which encompasses 5,000 employees across more than 30 countries in LATAM. In the past, and especially in the wake of the pandemic, LATAM has been a historically underserved region. One area in which our team seeks to enable progress is around access to high-quality maternal health care and family planning services. I believe that a healthy society leads to a more productive one, and I’m committed to improving maternal health as a vital part of that mission.

That said, my hope is to continue working tirelessly to maximize opportunities to improve health outcomes for all. Professionally, I began my journey in health care as a part-time employee at a local pharmacy, where I often translated for the largely diverse and Latino community. Later, I pursued a degree in public health, focusing on underserved populations in cancer clinical trials. Throughout my career, I’ve remained motivated by the responsibility to address unmet needs across underserved populations, including Latino, African American, LGBTQ+, Asian American and more.

Reflecting on my work with MSD for Mothers, there are several experiences that stand out to me. Most recently, we unveiled a new project designed to help reduce preventable maternal mortality in the region, particularly in Honduras and Peru. This is part of a public-private partnership with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), aimed at improving maternal health and closing health care gaps across LATAM so that women and their children, families and communities can thrive for generations to come.

Additionally, earlier this year, I visited a hospital in the Dominican Republic that was receiving support from MSD for Mothers through a grant to UNICEF. The team sought to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the region, and it was inspiring to see firsthand the progress made for women in the community, especially migrants and those living in extreme poverty.

Meeting the team on the ground and visiting the maternity ward was an experience I’ll never forget. Seeing the passion and commitment fueling the teams behind this effort was inspiring. I had the chance to speak with a mother who was learning how to breastfeed her premature baby. I spoke to her in “Spanglish” and was able to share my own journey of raising a preterm baby with her, and we spoke about the importance of “kangaroo cuddling” for the baby’s growth and development. This moment of connection reinforced the importance of the work we are doing and how much of a difference it can make in the lives of mothers and babies.

Another important effort in Mexico that I was involved with has focused on addressing gender-based violence that often prevents women and girls from accessing family planning services. This collaboration with Pro Mujer has been incredibly powerful and adds to the many examples of how we are striving to create a safe and supportive environment for women to access health care services.

Last but certainly not least, I’d be remiss if I did not acknowledge an initiative that took place at our regional summit two years ago. The LATAM team coordinated the largest single donation of postnatal kits as part of a hands-on service project. If you are unfamiliar, postnatal kits include essential supplies to aid the health and safety of a mother and her newborn after birth. More than 250 colleagues from over a dozen countries built 1,000 postnatal kits that were donated to low-income communities in the LATAM region as well as to Ukraine, as this was shortly following the invasion of Russia. This project was a record-breaking effort that truly showcased the passion and dedication of our team members to make a tangible impact on maternal health.

My advice for those interested in becoming involved with MSD for Mothers is to familiarize yourself with the incredible work and impact that the program has achieved. Sign up for our newsletter, visit the website and engage with us on social media.

There are many opportunities for employees to volunteer. For example, you can organize a team-building exercise like creating postnatal kits for new and expecting mothers, just as we did during our regional summit. Every contribution counts, and there are many ways to make a positive impact.

I feel a great sense of responsibility and privilege in my role to visit different countries and connect with the people behind these transformative efforts. Every project reminds me of the significant impact we can make together, and I am inspired daily by the dedication of our collaborators and colleagues.