Asa Cristina Laurell is a Mexican sociologist who has had a long career in both research and government positions. Her birthday is December 20 and she was born in 1943. She grew up in Sweden, but her education eventually brought her to Mexico. There she earned more degrees and conducted research that focused on health policy and ensuring access to health care for everyone in Mexico as well as various other Latin American countries. She is very well known for her help in founding the Latin American Association of Social Medicine (ALAMES) as well as the contributions she has made to widening access to health care for Mexicans during her time in government.