Karen Betancourt, chief executive officer of Vanguard Medical and a former supply chain exec at Walmart and other multinationals, talks about the challenges and personal fulfillment she experiences in bringing needed medical supplies and equipment to patients in Latin America.

Vanguard Medical specializes in bringing cutting-edge medical technology to Central and South American countries, with products ranging from syringes to magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Depending on the country, delivery challenges can be daunting, but the satisfaction and personal fulfillment in overcoming obstacles can be huge, Betancourt says. Unlike previous employers, where the supply chain handles, say, pillows and dog food, Vanguard is dealing with life-saving supplies and equipment. “We believe everyone should have access to the very best medical care.”

Vanguard works with manufacturers and purchasing entities to meet the needs of medical professionals and hospitals. The goal is to get as close to the population that ultimately uses the products or equipment as possible. “You shouldn't have to travel 200 kilometers to be able to get medical care.”

But the challenges in delivering a multi-ton scanner are quite different from those in delivering hemodialysis kits. The former may require working with construction companies. “So it's really partnering the delivery and the warehousing to tailor to the particular needs of a clientele.” 

Vanguard delivers to nine counties in Latin America, but little of its product line originates in the region. While hemodialysis kits are traditionally put together in Central and South America, Vanguard predominantly deals with Asian or European manufacturers. Being close to the Panama Canal is beneficial for the company. Customs paperwork is anything but, Betancourt says. “When you're talking about countries that typically like paper, having something stamped by a receiving clerk, that adds some complexity that’s coming from the United States, I was not anticipating quite as much.”