Introduction-- International Liaison
My name is Maya Liester, and I am a medical student in the United States pursuing a career in primary care with a focus on Lifestyle Medicine. I am passionate about preventing disease and improving my community’s health through lifestyle changes. One of the six core tenets of Lifestyle Medicine is social well-being — the idea that individual health depends on meaningful connections with our friends, family, and community. I extend this concept of social health to the global community, including my dear friends in Imbabura, Ecuador.
Ecuador holds a special place in my heart. My parents met there, I grew up considering Quechua friends to be my second family, and in 2023, I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks living in Ilumán Bajo. The 70-year-old woman who hosted me, whom I lovingly call Mamacita, is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. She spends her days cooking for…