I am a Public Health academic and an educator with over 20 years of experience in higher education.  I am a Senior Lecturer in Public Health based at the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen, UK. I am a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), UK; Country Director of International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (HETL), New York, USA; and Senior Editor of Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education (JARHE). I have a Medical background graduating from Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore in India and worked as an infectious disease clinician before training in academic Public Health at the University of Aberdeen in the UK.

While my clinical career was focussed on infectious diseases, mainly Leprosy, my academic career is focussed on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). My research is mainly around the epidemiology of Obesity, Diabetes and Cancer. I am specifically interested in lifestyle behavioural patterns; socio-cultural influences and its modification for prevention and management of NCDs. I am particularly interested in the lifestyle and health behaviour changes and its implications during ‘TRANSITIONS’. These include transitions from adolescence to young adults; economic, demographic and cultural shifts in transitioning countries; and rural to urban transitions.

My pedagogical research interests include student support to enhance engagement and learning especially among ethnically and culturally diverse student communities; mentoring and support for trainee doctors for improving career planning and addressing differential attainment; social accountability of education; predictive validity of medical selection; and sustainable education in resource limited settings.

I have extensive experience in developing and leading programmes of study, faculty development, supervision of Masters’ and doctoral students in Public Health and Heath care professional education. I lead the Master of Public Health (MPH) and teach on several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I have supervised 78 Masters and 8 Doctoral students to date. I have education and research collaborations nationally and internationally with India, Singapore, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh and Nepal working with Medical schools, Universities, NGOs, Government and Private Research Foundations.

I have international Teaching and Research collaborations with

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Karnataka, South India

Chrsitian Medical College, Vellore, South India

Madras Diabetes Researh Foundation, Chennai, South India

National Institute of Nutrition, Telengana, South India

Samarth NGO, Tamilnadu, South India

Harward School of Public Health, Harward University, USA  

Sydney School of  Public Health, Sydney, Australia

American University of Afganistan, Kabul, Afganistan  

Tribuvan University,  Kathmandu, Nepal.

I have done consultancy work for WHO to develop guidelines for prevention and Treatment for Leprosy