Mia Mark
Operations Assistant
2025–present

“I am inspired by the total focus—and commitment, energy, and joy in teaching— that every Heart to Heart volunteer radiated throughout the mission. For me, the opportunity to observe and facilitate relationships between the Heart to Heart team and the Hospital Nacional de Niños doctors and nurses on my very first mission has given me a much deeper sense of the impact that we are having here in Costa Rica.”

Mia has leveraged her previous data experience to take the lead for the office team in putting together visual presentations of key metrics. On her first Heart to Heart mission in March 2026, Mia felt honored to see the data charts and graphs she had developed—summaries of the cumulative outcomes of key cardiac procedures, including patient age at time of surgery and case complexity—presented directly to the interdisciplinary team of cardiac specialists, including surgeons and cardiologists, at Costa Rica’s National Children’s Hospital.

As Heart to Heart’s Operations Assistant, Mia provides extensive note-taking on calls and in meetings—first by hand, then distilling and transcribing her own work for on-going digital documentation. Her fluency in Spanish enables her to translate any points made in Spanish during year-round bilingual meetings with our Costa Rican colleagues. Her records provide valuable references for keeping everyone up-to-date and on the same page. Mia also plays an active role in meeting communications and program project deadlines.

Mia fulfilled a double major toward her bachelor’s degree from Occidental College: Spanish Studies, which she refers to as her “fun major,” and Diplomacy & World Affairs, her “academic major.” She also completed two internships toward her degree: four months in Buenos Aires at a law firm specializing in immigration, and three months working part-time at Global Ties Sacramento, a community-based nonprofit funded by the U.S. State Department to support its International Visitor Leadership Program. 

Mia has set herself a personal goal for 2026, continuing her journey as a self-described life-long student: She is on track to read 52 books, see 52 movies, and listen to 52,000 minutes of music. ¡Buena suerte, Mia!