Leonel Córdoba Gamboa is a Costa Rican geographer and public health expert whose work bridges land, water and human well-being. With a degree in Geography and a Master’s in Public Health from Costa Rica, and a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from Mexico, Leonel has spent over 15 years working at the intersection of environmental and community health.

From coordinating national fieldwork on infant health to leading water resource projects in Nicoya, his focus has always been grounded in improving lives through integrated, place-based solutions. A passionate educator, he teaches Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Environmental Epidemiology and Health Geography across several Costa Rican universities, shaping future professionals in the field.

As a member of the International Society for Children’s Health and the Environment (ISCHE) and a co-author of multiple scientific articles, Leonel continues to connect science, teaching and community action in pursuit of healthier, more resilient environments.