Lara Veldman, who joined Fistula Foundation as program associate in August 2023, is now senior program associate. In her role, Lara supports grantmaking and helps strengthen partnerships with our global network of fistula care providers to help as many women as possible access life-changing fistula repair surgeries.
Lara brings to the Foundation experience in health and gender equity from her work as program associate at Rural Forward, a program that builds capacity for solving health challenges in communities across North Carolina. Previously, she was an intern at EngenderHealth, a nonprofit that advances sexual and reproductive rights.
Lara holds a bachelor of education degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s in public health degree, with an emphasis on global health, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.