Dr Madhava Dharmadasa
A Low-Cost Psychosocial Support system to Improve Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing in a Post-Crisis Rural Hospital Setting in Sri Lanka
Dr A.G.M.M. Dharmadasa is a medical administrator at the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, with over a decade of experience in public health and hospital management. He holds a Master’s degree in Medical Administration and is currently pursuing his MD in the same field. Dr Dharmadasa has held leadership positions in tertiary care hospitals and has actively contributed to national health programs, including COVID-19 prevention and family planning. His areas of interest include patient safety, clinical governance, health informatics, infodemic management, and the governance of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He has authored several publications on patient-centered care, patient safety and healthcare quality improvement.
Dr Nidhi Tripathi
Invisible labour, Visible struggles – Gendered vulnerabilities of ASHA workers in Uttarakhand
Dr Nidhi Tripathi, is a dentist by training from Rishikesh and have completed a Master of Public Health from SCTIMST, Trivandrum. Born and raised in the hills of Nainital, Uttarakhand, She has witnessed how geography shapes lives, often making access to basic health services a daily struggle. After years of working as a clinician, she felt driven to explore deeper, systemic issues – not just working within four walls, but working within the system and alongside the community. Her current work is inspired by the strength of women frontline health workers (ASHA) in remote Himalayan region, the struggles are unheard and ignored, yet powerful that keep the health systems standing and these voices need to be heard!
Dr Arsha Kochuvilayil
Dr Arsha Kochuvilayil (Arsha VR) is a dentist by training who discovered her passion for public health through a strong commitment to community well-being. Her work focuses on elderly and long-term care systems, with a particular emphasis on the challenges faced by informal caregivers. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health and has published widely in reputed national and international journals, contributing valuable insights to the fields of aging, caregiving, and health systems research.
Dr Ashekur Rahman Mullick
“Mental Health Interventions for Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Holistic Approach in Bangladesh”
Dr Ashekur Rahman Mullick is an accomplished public health professional specializing in occupational and environmental health. He holds an MBBS from SUST, an MPH from NIPSOM, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (London). Dr Mullick has extensive experience in research, program implementation, and data analysis, contributing to projects funded by WHO, UNICEF, and other international organizations. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented at global conferences. Known for his leadership, collaboration, and analytical skills, Dr Mullick is dedicated to advancing public health through evidence-based interventions and multidisciplinary approaches.
Dr Kiloshini Hendawitharana
A Holistic, Community-Based Nutrition Program to Improve School Engagement among Children in Rural Sri Lanka: Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr Kiloshini Hendawitharana is a dedicated Physician serving at the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka. In addition to her medical profession, she is also a committed social worker who plays an active role in supporting rural and underserved communities across the country. Through her involvement with the “Pirunu Kusak – Pirunu Hisak Charity,” she helps lead various humanitarian initiatives focused on healthcare access, nutritional support, and educational empowerment. Her compassionate service reflects a deep commitment to addressing inequalities in health and social well-being. Dr Hendawitharana continues to inspire many through her tireless efforts to uplift vulnerable populations.
Professor Dr Fariha Haseen
Understanding SRH barriers and facilitators among climate-displaced adolescents in urban slums of Bangladesh: A CFIR-guided qualitative exploration
Professor. Dr Fariha Haseen, MBBS, MPH, MA, PhD, is the Head of the Division of Reproductive and Child Health and Director of Centre for Gender and Women’s Health Research at the Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU). With over 30 years of experience, she specializes in leadership, gender, adolescent health, climate change, and sexual and reproductive health, and health systems, with 40+ publications. She has contributed to developing the MPH program at BMU. She has been awarded several prestigious scholarships, including the Summer Programme at the East- West Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA; MEASURE Evaluation at the University of North Carolina, USA, for the MA programme and the Wellcome Trust (UK) for the PhD programme at the Institution of Population and Research Centre (IPSR), Mahidol University, Thailand. Dr. Haseen is a member of the Institutional Review Board of BMU, the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS), and the Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN). She advocates for women’s health nationally and globally.
Dr Thisara Perera
Climate-Induced Livelihood Transformations and Fertility Preferences among Females: Examples from Sri Lanka
Dr U.T.G Perera is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography attached to the Department of Geography, University of Colombo. His educational background includes a B.A. (Special) in Geography from the University of Colombo, an MSc in Environment Management from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom. He authored several articles indexed in Web of Science, contributing insights to the global body of knowledge. He contributed as a researcher in several research projects funded by European Union (EU)/ United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF). His research interests are on Medical Geography, Spatial Epidemiology and Disaster management.
Ruma Khondaker
Randomized Controlled Trial of a group-based intervention to improve maternal mental health and child well-being in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya communities
Ruma Khondaker is a senior clinical psychologist in Bangladesh with over 20 years of experience in child and adult mental health, MHPSS for displaced populations and refugees, trauma, addiction, and violence-related care. She has worked with SCI, HI, UNDP, and other national/international agencies in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Ukraine. She holds degrees from the University of Dhaka and a certification in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Guelph. Ruma currently serves as MHPSS Advisor for Save the Children Bangladesh and is affiliated with CISMU-UNDSS, with a strong focus on community-based and emergency MHPSS programming.
Sarah Williams
Randomized Controlled Trial of a group-based intervention to improve maternal mental health and child well-being in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya communities
Sarah Williams is a global health professional with over 25 years of experience, primarily focused on maternal and newborn health. With a background in midwifery, she has worked across the UK, Africa, and Asia in roles including teaching, training, mentoring, operational research, and programme leadership. She currently serves as the Senior Maternal and Newborn Health Advisor at Save the Children UK, providing technical support to programmes in low- and middle-income countries both remotely and on the ground. Her career is underpinned by a strong focus on health equity and the right of all people to quality care.
Andrew Clarke
Randomized Controlled Trial of a group-based intervention to improve maternal mental health and child well-being in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya communities
Andrew Clarke is a Senior Health Advisor for Save the Children UK, working in paediatrics and public health for over 30 years. He supports clinical and public health programs for children and families in countries including Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia and Malawi, and a research portfolio trialling new approaches to long term challenges in maternal and child health. He is an Honorary Clinical Researcher at Lancaster University and has interests in human rights, mental health, climate change and health equity. Andrew also undertakes technical advisory roles for NGOs and organisations including the Council of Europe and the World Health Organisation.
Dr Shomik Maruf
Mapping the Last Mile: Micro-Stratification for Sustained Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination in Bangladesh
Dr Shomik Maruf is a Bangladeshi physician and researcher, currently working as an Assistant Scientist at icddr,b with more than ten years’ experience in neglected tropical diseases. A Chevening Scholar, he holds an MSc in Medical Parasitology and an MPH in Epidemiology. He has led or co-led over fifteen studies on visceral leishmaniasis, post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis and DHIS2-based surveillance. Author of more than twenty peer-reviewed papers and an adjunct public health faculty at North South University, Dr Maruf mentors emerging researchers and works to strengthen disease elimination programmes and health systems in resource-limited settings
Samuel Sithole
Transforming Participation into Power: Community Engagement as a Catalyst for Adolescent-Centered Health in Mbare, Zimbabwe
Samuel Sithole is a seasoned public health professional with over 16 years of experience in health promotion, community engagement and health systems strengthening. He currently serves as the Health Promotion and Community Engagement Manager for the Mbare Adolescent Health Project with Médecins Sans Frontières in Zimbabwe. Samuel is deeply invested in community-driven methodologies and has led the implementation of patient charters, multi-channel feedback systems and adolescent health advisory boards. He holds a Master of Public Health, an Executive MBA, and a BSc in Health Promotion, and has presented at regional scientific platforms such as ICASA.
Sudarsanan Kandaswamy
Invisible No More: Unveiling the Overlapping Risks of Drug Use and HIV in Indian Prisons
Sudarsanan Kandaswamy is an M&E Specialist with 12+ years of experience in public health, focusing on HIV, TB, and community system strengthening. He excels in data-driven insights, strategic frameworks, and stakeholder engagement, delivering impactful solutions for global health initiatives.
Abdul Wasay Mullahzada
Quality of Care in Fragile, Conflict-Affected Settings: An analysis of Quality-of-Care delivery in two Hospitals in Yemen
Mullahzada is an experienced public health professional with over 20 years of experience with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Currently working as Public Health Coordinator/Health Advisor for MSF programs in Syria and Yemen, he is pursuing his PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on quality of care and patient safety in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Mullahzada has extensive field experience across Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan, Syria, Papua New Guinea, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Australia, and Pakistan. His work is rooted in improving healthcare delivery in humanitarian settings, ensuring high standards of care in the most challenging environments.
Safreena Farhath
Intersection of political determinants of health and community participation; A case study of public health model of palliative care
Safareena Farhath Manzil holds a Master’s in Public Health and Human Development with a specialization in Health Systems and Policy from OP Jindal Global University. She works in Monitoring and Evaluation consultancy with a focus on community-based health programs. Her research interests include political determinants of health, community participation, and gender. A passionate advocate for social inclusion, disability rights, and palliative care, her dedication is deeply shaped by her lived experience as the mother of a specially-abled child. She also volunteers at the Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode, where she trains community volunteers and contributes to strengthening palliative care initiatives
Dr Joseph Lazar Kannath
Health-related quality of life among patients with cancer in a public hospital in India: a cross-sectional study
Dr Joseph Lazar Kannath is a preventive medicine physician who is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at Delhi University in India. He has a strong interest in public health research, focusing on health economics, health-related quality of life, and cancer care. He is committed to evidence-based policymaking and aims to improve healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. His research has been presented at both national and international forums, demonstrating his dedication to advancing population health outcomes through scientific inquiry and collaboration.
Dr Vinya S. Ariyaratne
Sanity amidst chaos: The curious case of the ‘Áragalaya’ street medics
Dr Vinya Ariyaratne is the President of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and a Past President (2023) of Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA). He is a is a Board Certified Specialist in Community Medicine and Past President and Fellow of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL).
Dr Ariyaratne obtained his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Degree from the De La Salle University in the Philippines, Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree from Johns Hopkins University U.S.A.. He also holds the Degrees of Master of Science M.Sc. and Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Community Medicine from the Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, U.K. and a Chevening Fellow at the Nuffield Institute of the Faculty of Medicine and Health of the University of Leeds, U.K. where he obtained with Distinction the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Management, Planning and Policy. In 2007 He was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) honouris causa by the University of Durham, UK, for his outstanding contribution towards Tsunami recovery in Sri Lanka. Dr. Ariyaratne is also a recipient of 2012 Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award from Shwab Foundation/World Economic Forum (WEF).
As a senior Community Physician, Dr.Ariyaratne possesses extensive experience in public health, community development, disaster management, nutrition, child health, working with war affected communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs). He has been actively involved in COVID-19 prevention and control work in Sri Lanka and serves as the Co-chair of the United Nations Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) – Health Cluster. Dr. Ariyaratne was also engaged in programmes related to emergency response to the socio-economic crisis, particularly in food security and nutrition. As the President of the SLMA in 2023, in addition to conducting the routine activities, he organized academic events to reach the doctors serving in the periphery covering all provinces and districts, and in extensive advocacy
Udesh Fernando
Sanity amidst chaos: The curious case of the ‘Áragalaya’ street medics
Udesh is an international development professional and a development educator. He is currently a Board Director of the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning, part of Sri Lanka’s largest community development movement known as Sarvodaya, where he previously served as Director-Programmes, and providing leadership in higher education and grassroots development education initiatives.
He holds an M.Sc. in International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London, and is currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University as a Swedish Institute global professional scholar. His career includes policy and research roles at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies and the One-Text Initiative, focusing on reconciliation, democratic dialogue, and constitutional reform. A Fellow of the Swedish Institute SI Leader Lab (2023), he has also been active with the UN Volunteer Programme, the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, Impact Voices and the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania and Asia region. He is currently based in Sweden, where he combines his studies with course coordination at UppsalaUniversity’s Centre for Environment and Development Studies (CEMUS).
His research and professional interests include sustainable development, integral education, community resilience, human rights, and decolonisation.
B. Harigovind
Exploring Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Emerging Adults in Kerala
Harigovind is a Public health professional hailing from Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. His areas of interest include social connections, loneliness and how it affects health. With a background in civil engineering and solid waste management, he also look to expand his horizon into the domains of health policy and epidemiology.
Firdous Jalgaonkar
A Photovoice Exploration of Stigma in Women with Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Mumbai
Firdous Jalgaonkar, is a proud DR-TB survivor, activist, and founding member of the TB Survivors Collective from Mumbai. She has been previously diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2016 and she has completed her treatment in 2020 with support from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through a salvage regimen. Despite the challenges, she completed her graduation and represented her college at the university level in sports. She is also a co-author of Hamari Aawaz, a book on TB stigma. Today, she works as a freelance HR professional and continues to advocate for the rights, dignity, and meaningful involvement of TB-affected communities.
Sheetal Agarwal
Healing Through Humour: Evaluating the Impact of Medical Clowning on Patient Wellbeing in Indian Public Hospitals
Sheetal is a Social anthropologist by training and a big Clown at heart. She is the founder of Clownselors Foundation, a volunteer based organization engaged in medical clowning- a therapy to aide in healing of patients through humor. She is a two time TEDx speaker. She has trained more than 900 volunteers including medical professionals and has clowned with acclaimed clowns from Israel, Australia and Spain across India and Nepal. She has also been featured by Hersheys and numerous news outlets for her inspiring work and commitment to making the world a happier place.
Rachel Yantzi
“I have to put myself in their place”: Exploring empathy in humanitarian palliative care through stories from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Rachel Yantzi is Mobile Support Technician (MST) for pediatric palliative care for MSF OCBA. She is a pediatric nurse and PhD candidate in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University. She holds a master’s degree in community health nursing and public health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Prior to beginning her role as MST, Rachel completed two assignments with MSF as nursing activities manager in the Central African Republic in 2009, and in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh in 2020-2021. Her research is focused on healthcare workers’ moral experiences and the ethical aspects of integrating palliative care in humanitarian response.
Dr Nalik Samarasinghe
An empirically derived framework to ensure the sustainability of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) for adoption in a low-resource setting
Dr Nalik Samarasinghe is a dedicated medical professional with an MD in Health Informatics, specializing in public health informatics, telemedicine, health education, and medical education. With a strong commitment to digital health transformation, Dr Samarasinghe contributes to improving healthcare systems through innovation, capacity building, and sustainable technology integration. Passionate about equity, accessibility, and lifelong learning, he plays a key role in national digital health initiatives. His work bridges clinical expertise with modern informatics to strengthen public health outcomes in Sri Lanka and beyond.
Dr Akash Satpathy
SurgiPod: the Smallest Portable Modular OT
Dr Akash Satpathy is a medical doctor and innovator with a keen interest in frugal innovations that are aimed to deliver high impact health solutions with low environment impact in all types of resource settings.
Currently as a Public Health Doctor, he is not only exploring unmet public health challenges through frugal innovations but also collaborating with innovators from fields like molecular biology to drive large scale community- based public health programs.
When he is not into public health, he’s usually found worrying about climate solutions and planetary health.
Dr Dharshini Murugupillai
“Thenagaposha” – Pride of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka – Story of New Nutritional Supplement Production during Economic Crisis
Dr Dharshini Murugupillai is a Sri Lankan Medical Council registered public health specialist with over 24 years of experience in patient care, preventive health, disease prevention with a background in epidemiology. A graduate of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, she completed her residency at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa. Known for her compassionate approach and clinical expertise, Dr Dharshini has served diverse communities and led multiple public health initiatives. She has worked with government agencies, NGOs and international organizations to design and implement evidence-based programs, she is also an active contributor to medical research and continuing education programs, committed to improving population health outcomes through evidence-based care, innovation and advancing sustainable health solutions in underserved communities.
Dr Jasmin Blake
Implementing a Satellite Communication System for Urgent Medical Care in the Upper Essequibo Region, Guyana
Dr Jasmin Blake is a public health specialist who has worked with various NGOs to improve emergency care in remote and resource-limited areas. She has worked in both the Amazon rainforest and the Congo Basin, focusing on using telecommunications to enhance medevac methods, strengthen emergency response systems, and reduce critical response times. Passionate about bridging healthcare gaps, she is currently leading efforts to equip remote Amazonian villages with satellite internet and healthcare services, connecting some of the world’s most isolated communities to timely, life-saving care.
Dr Shivakumar Narayan
Developing contextualized clinical pathways for infectious disease management in resource-limited settings
Dr Shivakumar Narayan is a Physician MD, FIDSA. His interests lie in infectious diseases, HIV/HCV, substance use and related infection, contextualized care. He is also an Associate Professor at UMMedschool at IHVMaryland.
Dr Suresh Munuswamy
Evaluating the Unit Person Cost and Contributing Components of Head-to-Toe Home-Based Universal Community Screening using the COMPREHENSIV Model
Dr Suresh Munuswamy is a medical doctor, public health scientist, and start-up entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in clinical care, digital health, and health systems innovation. He holds an MBBS from Chennai, an MPH from Oxford, and a PhD from Tokyo, where he became the first Indian selected for the Government of Japan’s fully funded Public Health Leadership Doctorate Program. He is the Founding Dean and Professor at India’s first School of Digital Health Sciences and Technologies at Malla Reddy Viswavidyapeeth, Hyderabad. His flagship platform, COMPREHENSIV, combines AI, AR, drones, and design thinking for home-based primary healthcare.
Nikita Jana
Evaluating the Unit Person Cost and Contributing Components of Head-to-Toe Home-Based Universal Community Screening using the COMPREHENSIV Model
Nikita Jana is an Assistant Professor at Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth, with a keen focus on public and digital health research. She holds a Master’s degree in Integrated Health Informatics from IIPH-Hyderabad (AcSIR) and previously worked as a Consultant – Digital Health at HI Rapid Labs. Her professional journey includes roles in clinical research and pharmacovigilance at Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd., Mumbai. She has contributed to innovative projects involving healthcare drones, portable medical devices, leprosy contact tracing, and the COMPREHENSIV platform for universal primary healthcare delivery in India.
