AnneLoes van Staa was trained as a paediatric nurse, after which she studied medicine and cultural anthropology (specializing in medical anthropology) at the University of Amsterdam. She also worked in developing countries for several years, including working with Doctors Without Borders. In 2012, she obtained her PhD after completing her doctoral thesis On Your Own Feet, which concerns what young people with chronic conditions want in healthcare, their preferences and competencies for healthcare.