Sara Lewis, Senior Program Manager

An experience when she was a high school American Field Studies exchange student in Bolivia sparked Sara Lewis’s interest in global health. “Bolivia seemed very exotic to a 17-year-old, sheltered, Midwestern girl,” says Sara, an IntraHealth senior program manager. “The memory that has stayed with me forever is meeting a woman high in the Andes Mountains who asked me to care of her young children because she was suffering from tuberculosis and could no longer care for them herself.” From that point on, Sara knew wanted to work for an organization with a focus on international maternal and child health care. She went on to get a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master’s in international relations.

Since 2000, Sara has worked for IntraHealth, supporting maternal and child health projects in several countries.  Prior to coming to IntraHealth, Sara worked primarily in Latin America. Fluent in Spanish, she started at IntraHealth managing programs in Latin America, but now her job takes her to the other side of the globe; Sara supports IntraHealth’s projects in India—and all of them support improving women’s and children’s health.  In recent years, she has had assignments in Armenia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and she has appreciated working with people in and experiencing other cultures.

Working side by side with IntraHealth’s staff in countries around the world has been a highlight of Sara’s job. “From Latin America to Armenia to India—they are incredibly talented and dedicated field staff.” And Sara thinks IntraHealth knows that. “It’s important that you pay attention to people and their needs,” she explains. “IntraHealth recognizes that staff members are our most important resource.”

Over the years, IntraHealth has given Sara strong facilitation and leadership skills that she appreciates.  “Working with IntraHealth has shown me how change can happen through teamwork, and how valuable strong leadership skills are in this field.”

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