Dr. Ana-Maria Vayna: A Mission to Bring Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Romania to International Standards

Dr. Ana-Maria Vayna, senior consultant in obstetrics and gynecology and founder of BLESS Clinic, shares her professional journey, key decisions, challenges, and her mission to bring maternal-fetal medicine in Romania to international standards.

With over 15 years of experience as a senior consultant in obstetrics and gynecology, and with subspecialty training in maternal-fetal medicine in London, Dr. Ana-Maria Vayna combines her passion and medical expertise with the managerial role of a leading clinic in maternal-fetal monitoring – BLESS Clinic. She founded this clinic in 2023, following her dream of bringing international-standard maternal-fetal care to Romania.

Opening & introduction

C&B: If you were to describe yourself briefly, in a single sentence that sparks curiosity, what would you say about yourself?

Ana-Maria: I would say that I am a warm and empathetic person, that I try to understand what the person in front of me is going through. I have this instinct to empathize with my patients as well, but especially since becoming a businessperson and entrepreneur, I have also trained a certain decisiveness in making decisions, which acts as a counterbalance.

C&B: If we asked your colleagues or collaborators to describe you, what do you think they would say about you?

Ana-Maria: I believe they would say that I am a team player and that they are lucky to be part of a team that saves lives or brings new lives into the world. At least, I feel lucky to share the operating room with all my colleagues.

Journey & beginnings

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your career and how do you feel you have changed until today?

Ana-Maria: I was much more of a workaholic, so to speak. I really wanted to accumulate as much knowledge as possible, to put it into practice, and to work with extremely complex cases, learning from the best. That is why I went to the United Kingdom for my professional training, to learn directly from the renowned Professor Kypros Nicolaides, one of the pioneers of maternal-fetal medicine worldwide. I made many sacrifices to be there, beyond commuting between Bucharest and London with a baby at home, the fatigue that kept building up as the miles added up, and, in general, the effort of constantly being on the move. But it was absolutely worth it! Precisely so that today I can have a more balanced schedule, where I am beginning to reap the rewards of those early efforts in my career.

C&B: Looking back, what were the turning points that shaped your professional path or your business?

Ana-Maria: This training and specialization period in the United Kingdom was certainly a key moment in my professional journey. Today, beyond performing in Romania the fetoscopic laser coagulation procedure in complex twin pregnancies with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and growth restriction, as well as other intrauterine fetal surgical interventions, I am proud to say that we also have a permanent partnership between BLESS Clinic and the Fetal Medicine Foundation in London. Through this international affiliation, there are two main directions: on one hand, highly complex cases are discussed and analyzed together with the foundation’s specialists in the United Kingdom and Professor Nicolaides. On the other hand, the second direction of this partnership reflects our mission to educate both the general public and medical professionals. Thus, BLESS Clinic organizes, in collaboration with the British foundation, training courses for medical staff, as well as courses for future parents.

Challenges & decisions

C&B: What has been the biggest challenge so far and how did you manage to overcome it?

Ana-Maria: I would say the biggest challenge was building the team at BLESS Clinic and developing my management and leadership skills in coordinating this team. From the rigorous selection process to evaluating both the professional and human qualities of my colleagues, and up to strengthening team cohesion, the process has been and continues to be complex and ongoing.

C&B: What decision most significantly changed the direction of your career or business?

Ana-Maria: The decision at the end of my residency to pursue subspecialty training in London was, I believe, the defining turning point in my professional path.

C&B: Did your leadership and decision-making style come naturally, or did you build it over time through experience?

Ana-Maria: It was a natural and gradual process. I encountered various situations that required me to adapt and find solutions case by case. Managing people is a very complex task, and I believe there is always room for improvement in this area.

Present & differentiators

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments bring you the most joy?

Ana-Maria: My day starts early at the hospital, where I deliver babies and monitor pregnancies in the public healthcare system. On some days, beyond routine births, I also perform more complex procedures for twin pregnancies with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) and growth restriction, as well as other intrauterine fetal surgical interventions, as I mentioned earlier. Then, after lunch and until the evening, my day continues at BLESS Clinic, where, besides managing the team and workflows—so in addition to my role as an entrepreneur and manager—I also practice as a physician. In the evening, I dedicate my time to my family, my husband, and my daughters. It may seem like a lot and quite busy, but I feel fulfilled and fortunate to be able to practice medicine in Romania at the highest standards.

C&B: What do you think sets you apart from other professionals or businesses in your field?

Ana-Maria: I do not usually compare myself to others. I always relate to my own potential, to what I know I am capable of, and I constantly strive to be the best version of myself. This approach has naturally extended into my management style as well. So I am not sure if this necessarily makes us different, but I do know that my team and I are professionals, perfectionists, with solid training, intuition built on complex cases, and instinct grounded in empathy, so that we are ready to “Fight for life before life,” as we have chosen as the clinic’s slogan.

Values & inspiration

C&B: Was there a dream or desire that kept you motivated, regardless of obstacles?

Ana-Maria: I have always wanted to found a clinic dedicated to maternal-fetal medicine, with all its complexities. It was a dream I worked toward constantly until its launch, and one I continue to work on every day to maintain it at the desired standards.

C&B: What values or principles guide you daily, and how do you manage to keep them alive in your work?

Ana-Maria: I strongly believe in the professionalism of medical practice and in the mission of healthcare professionals to save lives and bring new lives into the world, especially in maternal-fetal medicine. I am guided every day by these principles of professionalism and dedication.

C&B: If you could share one thought with those who see you as a role model, what would it be?

Ana-Maria: Never stop believing in and fighting for your dream!

Dr. Ana-Maria Vayna’s story is one of balance between empathy and decisiveness, between medical vocation and entrepreneurial vision. Through every decision and every intervention, she contributes to a field where the stakes are always life itself. And her message remains simple yet powerful: never stop believing in and fighting for your dreams.