Dr. Annie Vaillant

Dr. Annie Vaillant has spent her career caring for women, but becoming a patient herself changed the way she practices medicine. The Puerto Rican obstetrician-gynecologist knows what it feels like to sit on both sides of the examination room, an experience that has shaped her approach to patients and inspired her advocacy for women facing cancer.

Born in San Juan and raised in Mayagüez, Vaillant wanted to become a doctor from an early age. She studied biology at the University of Miami, earned her medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University and completed her residency at San Juan City Hospital. Since 2015, she has practiced at the Instituto Ginecológico de Puerto Rico.

© Dr. Annie Vaillant

On June 28, 2017, just two years into her medical practice, Vaillant was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. As a young mother and wife, she suddenly found herself facing the fears and uncertainties she had helped other women navigate. Several recurrences followed, along with surgeries and treatments, but she continued caring for her patients while making time for her family.

Going through cancer herself gave Vaillant a different understanding of what her patients experience. She knew what to expect medically, but living through the uncertainty of test results and the difficulties of treatment was another matter. Today, she takes extra care to listen to her patients and understand what they’re going through.

Vaillant has also worked with the American Cancer Society and Fundación Corazón Abierto to raise awareness and support cancer patients. In 2022, she became the Latin America patient advocate for the international Every Woman Study, focused on ovarian cancer. Two years later, she was featured in NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises’ fifth-anniversary edition of 'Mujeres Imparables.'

Her Catholic faith has been another important source of strength. Vaillant has spoken about how the illness brought her closer to God and encouraged her to think about how she could use her experience to support others.

Nearly a decade after her first diagnosis, Vaillant continues practicing medicine and sharing her story. She hopes to encourage women to pay attention to their health, ask questions and advocate for themselves. For her, being a powerful woman doesn’t mean never feeling vulnerable. It’s finding the courage to keep going, even when life takes an unexpected turn.