Profile
Clinical and Technical Expertise: paediatrics, neonatology, new born – child survival, vaccine preventable diseases, injection safety, maternal health, safe delivery, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, RTIs and STDs, parent to child HIV transmission.
Strategic Expertise: Maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition (MNCHN) policy advocacy, working at scale, supporting Government systems and programs, large scale program planning and monitoring, policy review and revision, leading teams, fostering consensus building, collaboration, organisational development and problem solving.
Academic Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), 1981 (Second in the University) Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur University, India. Received Gold Medal in Social and Preventive Medicine (for improving health status of rural communities in Wardha district) as well as 11 Silver and Bronze Medals.
- Doctorate in Medicine (MD), Paediatrics, 1984 (First in the University) Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur University, India. Thesis on neo-natal immunology with specific focus on rural, low birth weight babies.
- Fellow of Academy of Medical Specialties (Paediatrics), (FAMS), 1995
- Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International (PHF), 2000
- Emerging Leadership Training Certificate, Federal Executive Institute, North Carolina, USA, 2007
- Fellow of Indian Academy of Preventive & Social Medicine (FIAPSM),(Causa Honoris), 2007
- Fellow of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (FIAP), 2008
- Fellow of the National Neonatology Forum of India (FNNF), 2008
- Global Health Diplomacy Certificate, Graduate Institute of Geneva, Switzerland, 2013
Achievements-Public Health and Nutrition
- Established national level coalitions / (Nutrition, RMNCH+A, Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) and networking with high level group of policy, program and political leaders, such as Government Ministers, senior representatives from the Planning Commission/Niti Aayog, the media, NGOs, national and international development partners, UN agencies and the private sector.
- Ensured appropriate engagement of Translational Champions for Food Security and Nutrition, e.g. Professor M S Swaminathan
- Provided managerial and technical leadership to ensure effective development and implementation of quality health and nutrition programs with and for the government, civil societies, private sectors, international donor agencies, and technical advisory groups pertinent to project activities in India;
- Represented the organization to donors, government counterparts, NGO’s, and other stakeholders and developed strong collaboration and working relationships;
- Involved in policy advocacy initiatives targeting policy decision-makers and opinion-shapers;
- Supervised project technical and administrative staff
- Influenced national Planning Commission / NITI Aayog in India for more public health nutrition and health budgetary allocation in the 12th five year plan (2012 to 2017) and Universal Health Coverage.
- Planed, coordinated and implemented scale-up of comprehensive package of interventions in public Health and Nutrition arena.
- Developed strong organizational relationships and partnerships with local, national and international government authorities;
- Managed the recruitment and training of program staff to ensure staff are of the quality and capacity to ensure the successful implementation of program and project activities;
- Participated in global and regional nutrition and health initiatives such as Scaling up Nutrition (SUN), Partnership for Maternal Newborn Child Health (was on the Board and Executive Committee as the India CSO representative 2011 to 2013), Child Survival Calls to Action, G20, Women Deliver meetings and UN General Assemblies on Every Women and Every Child Strategy related Global summits.
Awards and Honours
- 11 Silver and Bronze Medals from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, during the MBBS. (1977 to 1980)
- Nagpur University Gold Medal in Social and Preventive Medicine (for improving health status of rural communities in Wardha district) during the MBBS (1980)
- Rotary International: Public Relations Award (1997), Significant Achievement Award (1998) and Polio Award (1999)
- Best Citizen Award, Government of Delhi, for HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities (1999)
- World Food Award, for “Telefood†projects of FAO (1999)
- Certificate of Appreciation, Government of India for contributions to the Polio eradication program, (2002)
- Red and White Gold Medal, for social acts of courage in the HIV/AIDS arena (2002)
- Nominee for Padma Award in the field of Medicine (Public Health) (2002)
- USAID Spot (Cash) Award for organising a successful visit of the Mission Director to Jharkhand which helped reinvigorate USAID and Government of Jharkhand relations on various health matters. (2005)
- USAID Incentive (Cash) Award for outstanding performance in leading the design and supporting the procurement of National Integrated Health Project (now called VISTAAR), where the highest quality in technical design, broad agreement among stakeholders within and external to USAID, and adherence to a demanding timeline were all required. (2006)
- USAID Incentive (Group Meritorious Honour) Award for innovation and creative approaches, strong partnerships, leveraging and capacity building that is making a real impact on millions of Indian lives. (2006)
- USAID Incentive (Cash) Award for bold and collaborative leadership in implementing the Coalition for sustainable Nutrition Security in India. Your vision and guidance will impact hundreds of thousands of children and families across India, (2009)
- Nominee for Padmashri Award in the field of Medicine (Public Health) (2009)
- USAID Incentive (Group Meritorious Honour) Award in recognition of their exceptional commitment to addressing priority health and education needs in the Embassy’s backyard, through development and implementation of a pilot program in Sanjay Gandhi settlement area. (2010)
- Prayag Vigyan Parishad (under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India) Unique Service to the Nation Award (2013)
- Rotary International Regional Polio Eradication Award (2014)
Professional Memberships
- Indian Medical Association, (Life member since 1988), named a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Specialities for Paediatrics in 1995
- Indian Academy of Paediatrics, (Life member since 1993) named a Fellow in 2008
- National Neonatology Forum (Life Member since 1994), named a Fellow in 2008
- Indian Academy of Preventive & Social Medicine, named a Fellow in 2007, (Causa Honoris)
- Visiting Professor (Paediatrics and Community Medicine) of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur University