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Resource Persons List
Dr. Harshad Thakur, Director (NIHFW)
Dr. Harshad Thakur, Director (NIHFW)
Dr. Harshad Thakur, Director, The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, has completed his MBBS and MD (Preventive and Social Medicine - PSM) from Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai and completed Diploma in Business Management (DBM) from Wellinkar Institute, Mumbai University in 1997. Before joining the NIHFW, he served as Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences for about 19 years and in PSM Department at KEM hospital for almost 7 years. During his tenure in TISS he worked with the School of Health Systems Studies for more than 15 years. Dr. Thakur started a MPH (Master’s of Public Health) program with a specialization in Social Epidemiology in June 2008 at TISS. He has expertise guiding research projects of PhD, M.Phil, MPH, MHA and DHA students. He has also organized and conducted various national / international workshops and seminars, e.g., workshop on Public Private Participation (PPP) for TB Control in India, Kala Azar, etc. Additionally, he has organized and conducted various national / international training programmes, e.g., National Training Programme in Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Hospital Management Training Programmes, etc. He is also the founding member and the managing committee member of SAATHI (Social Advancement Through Health Initiative). Dr. Thakur also founded and coordinated the Tuberculosis Interest Group (TBIG) at TISS to promote research and training related to TB among TISS faculty and students.
Dr. Prakasamma
Dr. Prakasamma
Dr. Prakasamma is a public health professional with a Ph.D in Social Medicine and Community Health from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and post doctoral studies from the Harvard School of Public Health. She has been a public health researcher and advocate for 40 years with special focus on studies related to maternal deaths. She is a registered nurse, midwife and public health nurse with bachelor and postgraduate degrees in nursing. She is also qualified in English Literature, Journalism, writing and editing. She founded Academy for Nursing Studies and Women’s Empowerment Research Studies in 1994 for research, training and advocacy on public health issues. Gender equity in society and health system have been the major focus of the Organization. In 1998, she launched the Society of Midwives, India to advocate for introducing a cadre of midwives in India. She established the Friendship Foundation – a trust for working on harmony between the natural and human worlds – and lives on a farm called Bhanumaty Biome. Currently she conducts short workshops on scientific writing; critical thinking; and conceptualizing research studies.
Dr. Rajni Bagga
Dr. Rajni Bagga
Rajni Bagga, Ph.D. is Professor and at presently heading the Department of Social Sciences at NIHFW. She did her Doctorate in Psychology and has additional qualification of Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management as well as in Public Relations. She has more than 30 years of experience in applied research in Behavioral Sciences and Human Resource Management and has conducted number of research studies in human resources in health and been part of various research studies in collaboration with various International Donor agencies. Having a passion for teaching and training she has specialized and gained expertise in conducting large number of training courses in Human Resource Management, Leadership Development, Counselling and Communication skill, and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA). Besides having publication in National and International Journals, has also written Modules/Chapters for other books. With my own aspiration, at my professional level as a Trainer and researcher, I have been focusing on developing and strengthening the leadership skills of nurses and midwives and helping them to become change agents, become more assertive by voicing the issues and challenges faced by them across the country.
Research Publication:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UxdOE7Er5F4vqjwCi3om2wcb0eUb9wYx/view?usp=sharing
Dr. Vandana Bhattacharya
Dr. Vandana Bhattacharya
Bearing Doctor of Philosophy from Development Studies in Corporate Social Responsibility in Health Care, M.Phil. (Population Studies), M.A.in (i) Development studies and (ii) Social Work, and BSc. Home Sciences presently deputed as ‘Assistant Nodal Officer’ of Distance learning cell, the NIHFW. Expertise gained in Teaching, Training and Research during these 22 yrs. in the areas of Participatory Learning Appraisal (PLA/PRA), Qualitative methods of Data collection and Analysis, Community Monitoring and Mobilization, Community Involvement and Ownership, Systems approach to Training, Adult learning , IEC, and Methods of teaching, Public Private Partnerships (PPP), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Health, Tribal Health, Health System Research, Elderly care, Water and sanitation , Health and Human Rights , Professional development for medical Officers, Scientific Writing and last but not the least Health Seeking Behavior. 19 Field based National Level research studies completed either as Investigator, co-investigator or team member. The undersigned bears the expertise in Approval process and its follow-up for Distance Learning Courses from ‘All India Council for Technical Education’ (AICTE), MHRD. She has also supervised Post Graduate students. Dr. Bhattacharya’s publication include: NIHFW publications (8); 14 Papers presented and Abstract published in International/ National Conference/Seminar; 9 Papers in National and 4 in International Journal of repute; One Editorial; 9 articles published in Hindi Journals like Kurukshetra and ‘Jan Swasthya Dharna’. Contributed Chapters (7) in the edited Books and 8 Units in the different Modules of distance Learning for P.G. Diploma course, IGNOU and one Unit for E-Learning Course developed by ITS.
Dr. Monika Saini
Dr. Monika Saini
Dr. Monika Saini received her Ph.D. degree in Anthropology from University of Delhi, Delhi. Her research focus is on Bio-social anthropology, tribal health and population studies in the domain of Anthropology. Being an Anthropologist, she has also carried out extensive and intensive field work among different tribes and caste groups of India.Dr. Saini has to her credit a total of sixteen well acclaimed publications in journals of international and national repute and participated in various national and international conferences, seminars and workshops. With a seven years of teaching experience, she has also supervised many post-graduate dissertations at University of Delhi. Additionally, she has also been indulged in online teaching of Anthropology subject on Gyan Darshan Channel of IGNOU and in e-PG Pathshala project of UGC-MHRD (NME-ICT) and has also written many units for the IGNOU’s bachelor and postgraduate degree program.She has also been the recipient of many prestigious awards, scholarships and fellowships including Young Scientist Award of Indian Science Congress-2015, 1st Prof. P. C. Biswas Memorial Award-2015, Yale University’s HRAF Scholarship-2019, University Grant Commission’s D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship-2018 and Junior and Senior Research Fellowships from 2013-16. Dr. Saini has also worked in a European Commission project at Hungary for a period of six months under the framework of ERASMUS plus. Moreover, she has also worked as an Academic Consultant in the field of Anthropology at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. Currently she is working as an Assistant Professor in Department of Social Sciences at The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.
Dr. Bulbul Sood
Dr. Bulbul Sood
Dr. Bulbul Sood holds an MBBS and an MPH, and is a member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences. A public health professional with more than 45 years of experience, she was a Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at Lady Hardinge medical college, Delhi for 23 years. Dr. Sood has been Jhpiego’s India Country Director since 2009. She is a respected figure in the public health field, known for her experience in international health and development. She has effectively demonstrated her ability to take programs forward in a holistic manner. Dr. Sood has strong technical expertise in reproductive health, extensive program management experience and is well-known in the field of family planning, maternal and reproductive health—both in India and internationally.Dr. Sood was Co-Chairperson of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood in India (WRAI) from 2003 to 2009 and has been successful in moving the country’s safe motherhood agenda forward by working collaboratively with the GOI, bilateral and multilateral donors, UN organizations and international and national NGOs, and has demonstrated skills in advocacy, negotiation and diplomacy.With experience in International Health and Development, Dr Sood is able to take programs forward in a holistic manner and is respected in the field for her knowledge and wisdom. She has strong reproductive health technical expertise, extensive program management experience and is well recognized and respected in the field of FP, Maternal Health and reproductive health both in India and internationally and has been successful in revitalizing the PPFP and introduction of PPIUCD in India which has led to paradigm shift in promotion of spacing methods in the country.Dr Sood has worked untiringly with Indian Nursing Council and Government of India at national and state level to strengthen the nursing and midwifery cadre in the country. She facilitated the development of the roadmap for strengthening the nursing and midwifery cadre in the country. This has led to development of 14 center of excellence across India where more than 800 nursing faculty has been trained from more than 300 ANM/GNM schools in both public as well as private sector and simultaneously educational and clinical standards have been implemented in these school leading to further improvement in quality of pre-service education. Currently, Dr Sood is working with MoHFW, GoI, INC, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, BMGF and USAID for the development of an effective midwifery workforce in India. This includes developing national roadmap for midwifery, creating National/State Midwifery Training Institutes, developing cadre of Nurse Practioner in Midwifery (NPMs) and establishment & operationalization of Midwifery Led Care Units (MLCUs) etc.Dr Sood is a member of Family Planning Medical Eligibility decision making committee of WHO and USAID over last several years, member of the INFO Editorial Advisory Committee of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, peer reviewer for Continuous Identification of Research Evidence (CIRE) system, which is a collaborative effort of WHO’s department of Reproductive Health and Research and CDC, Atlanta and is the peer-reviewer of the WHO’s Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) and the Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use (SPR) guidelinesDr Sood is member of various task force constituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India such as RMNCH Coalition, Maternal Health Task force, Stillbirth Advisory Committee and Strategic Advisory Group for Strengthening CPHC in urban areas. She is also TAG member of the Maternal Health Task Force of Harvard School of Public Health and member of the State Innovation in FP Service Agency (SIFPSA), Uttar Pradesh and governing board member of Indian Institute of health Management and Research (IIHMR), Delhi.Earlier, Dr. Sood served as the Country Director of Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) in India, overseeing all reproductive, maternal health, women empowerment and adolescent health activities in the country.
Research Publications:
drive.google.com/file/d/1gNiY05hRsB4EHSy3S8Mql3sim1WoBP-8/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lvQLSGkUsuxpmCp1crAGQ3LydX-9bQyq/view?usp=sharing
Dr (Mrs.) Rathi Balachandran
Dr (Mrs.) Rathi Balachandran
Dr. Rathi is serving as Assistant Director General (Nursing), MoHFW, Governement of India. Nurse administrator having more than 26 years of experience in nursing education, Management, Public Health and training. Faculty of Nursing, Master trainer and resource person in various international and national conferences, Published articles and research papers at National and International Journals and contributed in Nursing books. Served on various expert committees of Govt. of India and International Health Organizations. Academically completed graduation in Nursing from Medical college hospital, Calicut, Kerala; Master in Business Administration with HR specialisation, Post graduation from Delhi University in Community Health Nursing, and PhD in Nursing through INC and WHO Consortium. Completed various short term courses like Policy Programme 2018 from Global Nursing Leadership Institute, Geneva, International Council of Nurses PGCHFM from NIHFW, Delhi Diabetic Nurse Educator, Health Research Fundamentals from National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Foundation course in Palliative care etc. Life member of Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) , Society of Community Health Nurses, India (SOCHNI), Society Of Midwives India (SOMI) , Indian Association of Neonatal Nurses (IANN) and National Neonatal Forum(NNF) and Associate member of Child Abuse Neglect and Child Labor (CANCL).
Dr. Mona Gupta
Dr. Mona Gupta
Mona Gupta is currently Advisor Human Resources for Health in National Health Systems Resources Centre, which is a technical body of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Apart from HRH she also looks after the planning and Results Based Funds Disbursement under National Health Mission.
She has an overall experience of 22 years in the health sector across NGOs, Government, Research organizations, International Development Agencies and Consulting firms.
She is the member secretary of the working group to develop roadmap for Human Resources in Health in India and a member of the Committee constituted for the revision of Indian Public Health Standards.
Dr. Sudha Annasaheb Raddi
Dr. Sudha Annasaheb Raddi is graduate of the prestigious college of nursing, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. She has completed her Masters degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing from KLE Society’s Institute of Nursing Sciences, Belagavi. She has done her M.Phil. in Nursing from Manipal University with 1st rank and Ph.D from National consortium of Ph.D in Nursing of Indian Nursing Council. She is a nominated member of standing regulation committee of International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) for South East Asia. Dr. Sudha has clinical experience in ICU, medical & surgical wards and Maternity units as Lieut, in Military hospital of Pune and Air force hospital of Kanpur. She was SOMI Vice president from She has international exposure to by attending and presenting in the conferences of Asia Pacific Midwives Conference held in 2009 at Hyderabad, attended 29th Triennial congress of International Confederation of Midwives held at Durban, South Africa in 2011, The Asia Pacific midwifery Conference held at Hanoi, Vietnam 2012. She is also attended the 30th Triennial Congress held at Toronto, Canada of ICM in 2017. Participated as a SOMI, Leader in Exposure Visit to Sweden from 16th to 20th March 2009, Under the Project Titled ”Developing Inter Institutional Collaboration between institutions in India & Sweden for improving Midwifery and EmOC Services in India under the collaboration of SOMI, SIDA, TNAI, WHITE RIBBON ALLIANCE & INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AHMDABAD. Was sponsored by SIDA(Swedish International Development Agency)She was a Member for a Brainstorming Session on Nursing Education Reforms under the Chairpersonship of Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Delhi which was held on July 25th 2018, with participation from nursing experts and professionals from across the country. Principal Investigator for UKIERI Project between University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK and KLE University, Belagavi, which awards the Grant for the purpose of conducting activities under Strand III, Institutional Capacity Building proposal titled (“Enhancing Midwifery and Neonatal Care Through Capacity Building of Midwifery Lecturers”). She has visited to Norwich, UK twice as part of UKIERI Project in between Feb 2013-Dec2015. She is a Master Trainer for Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) project. Visited Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia to discuss about starting of midwifery course from March 20th to 29th March 2018.She has been offered voluntary non-salaried post of Adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson college of Nursing, Philadelphia, US. She is a part of many UGC teams for evaluation of Universities. Invited as Midwifery Expert for a consultation for content validation of tools for the study title “Competency based assessments for providers and tutors, including barriers and facilitators for the provision of quality midwifery services in India, supported by WHO held at New Delhi on 14th January 2019. She is a member of Academic bodies and Board of studies at various Universities and also a Ph.D guide and examiner. She has total 23 International and 16 national publications in her credit. She has organised International and National conferences and workshop. She had presented more than twenty papers and posters at national and International conferences.
Dr. Salima Bhatia
Dr. Salima Bhatia
Dr Salima has recently joined UNICEF Hyderabad Field Office as Health Specialist. She is a public health professional with over 9 year’s experience in Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. During her tenure she has provided technical and programmatic support for the implementation of the key maternal health programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (Prime Minister's Safe Motherhood Initiative), LaQshya, Midwifery Initiative and the recently launched Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) Initiative. She was also a part of the policy and planning division of the MOHFW and has contributed to the draft National Health Policy and several health system strengthening initiatives. On the academic front, she has abstract/ paper presentations and publications in international conferences and journals such as ‘The Lancet’ and ‘Global Health Action’ and is a winner of the ‘Óut of the Box Challenge’ of the Ministry of Health. She has been awarded ‘We for Stree’ award for exemplary contribution to Women’s Health by Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of India.
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