Professional Experience:
I am a public health professional with 18 years of experience, including leadership of World Bank-financed health systems strengthening projects. My expertise spans health systems approach, strategic planning, project design, financial management, and team administration. With a background in commerce, public health, and business administration, I bring a well-rounded skill set that combines technical expertise and leadership. I excel in multicultural environments and have successfully led complex public health projects in challenging contexts.
In leadership roles for the Andhra Pradesh and Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Projects (HSSP), I managed complex Results-Based and Input-Based Financing mechanisms. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic in Andhra Pradesh and limited resources in Mizoram, I led multi-disciplinary teams to achieve key milestones. As ket team member of COVID-19 Control Room of Government of Andhra Pradesh, I led COVID-19 control and management guidelines issued during pandemic in the state. Andhra Pradesh Health Systems Strengthening Project remained Moderately Satisfactory during my tenure. Under my leadership, the Mizoram HSSP improved from Moderately Unsatisfactory to Moderately Satisfactory in 1.5 years, with its environmental and social safeguards rated Satisfactory.
Before leading HSSP roles, under guidance and mentorship of the Late Dr. M.K. Bhan, I established Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP), a pioneering initiative fostering health systems research in India incubated by Tata Trusts and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). I also built strategic partnerships with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
My career began in Arunachal Pradesh, where I managed nine Primary Health Centres under a Public-Private Partnership model. This role expanded my understanding of community-level health systems, including health administration, human resources, health finance, infrastructure, and evaluation. I further developed my expertise through the SUKSHMA Project in Karnataka and my tenure with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where I honed my strategic planning skills.
At PwC, I led key projects like the restructuring of health departments in Bihar and Chhattisgarh, supported by DFID and the European Union, respectively. I also developed the Transition Plan for the State Innovation in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA), an USAID-supported institution in Uttar Pradesh. These roles involved collaboration with senior health administrators and aligning health initiatives with national priorities.
Notable achievements include leading the development of the Chief Minister’s Dashboard and the State Vision Plan 2030 for Jharkhand. I was also key team member for India’s polio program assessment for UNICEF, supported capacity building for Behaviour Change Communication under the National Rural Health Mission, and conducted institutional capacity assessments for NACP IV.
With my extensive experience across various states in India, working with central and state governments, and collaborating with multilateral and bilateral development agencies, project management and leadership, I am confident in my ability to add significant value to high impact projects. My expertise in project design, management, finance, grant management, and stakeholder engagement will contribute to improving project efficiency and achieving results.