Dr. Laura Louie, ND, MSc

The idea of establishing the Mae On Project was conceived in 2002 by Canadian naturopathic physician and acupuncturist Dr. Laura Louie while visiting Mae On Hospital, a rural community hospital located approximately 35 km east of Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

She volunteered her services and provided free acupuncture treatments to HIV and AIDS patients at the hospital.  Within 2 to 4 sessions, her Thai patients experienced a considerable decrease in symptoms, which led to a significant improvement in their quality of life.  Based on this dramatic result, Dr. Louie collaborated with Mae On Hospital to develop a clinical program to train nurses to administer acupuncture treatments for HIV and AIDS patients in this rural region.

With the success of the Mae On Project, Dr. Louie went on to found the Laura Louie Hope Foundation in 2006.  The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was created to provide cost-effective healthcare and educational programs as well as to improve the quality of life of underprivileged adults and children in developing countries through community-based grassroots projects.