LAUNA CLOUGH, D.O. (BSAPK ’12)
General Surgeon, Samaritan’s Purse
In 2010, the devastating earthquake in Haiti shook Launa Clough, D.O. (BSAPK ’12), to the core. Clough, who initially aspired to work with marine life, felt the need to change course and help the international community facing crises, like Haiti. Growing up overseas, she had seen first-hand what poverty looked like compared to the U.S. But Clough knew that picking up her bags and arriving in Haiti without a clearly defined skillset would not benefit anyone.
Fifteen years later, Clough works as a surgeon at Hôpital Baptiste Biblique in Togo, West Africa, for Samaritan’s Purse, a faith-based humanitarian organization that provides medical aid. As part of the organization’s post-residency program, Clough brings her skillset to perform surgeries, from appendix removals to caesarian deliveries, and teaches local surgery residents.
“Quality of patient care is really elevated when you introduce an educational component,” Clough said. “You have to have reasons for why you’re making medical decisions, and it will be the real key to changing these communities.”
When reflecting on the start of her medical journey, Clough fondly remembers her time as an undergraduate student in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology.
“The college felt very personal to me,” Clough said. “I would longboard to class and see my professors and they would know who I was.”
Clough commented that this also translated into more personalized letters or recommendations when applying to medical schools. In addition to the relationships made, she valued the hands-on opportunities woven into the department’s curriculum. Clough believes this gave her a competitive edge when arriving to medical school.
“Not many of my medical school colleagues had [focused on] anatomy or physiology, and I had come in with hands-on experience,” Clough said.
After graduating from UF, Clough pursued medical school at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013 and completed residency at the Detroit Medical Center in 2022. After that, Clough traveled to Switzerland to learn French, the native language in Togo, and was deployed to work in Tsiko, Togo, in 2022.
“It’s remarkable how complex of surgeries we can do on patients when you get down to the brass tacks of it,” Clough said. “We can do really complex surgeries with just sutures, pickups, a needle driver and a bovie.”
This year, Clough will begin a surgical critical care fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina, but her heart will always have a place for Togo.
When giving advice to students beginning their college journey, Clough shares the importance of broadening one’s mindset and exposing oneself to possibilities. “See as much as you can – there are so many things out there that you have no idea exist,” Clough said. “If you have the opportunity, explore things totally different from what you’re doing. Take something that is brand new to you and learn something completely different. Being well rounded is very valuable.”