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    PhD projects

    Resilience among Health care professions; Predictive validity and social accountability of education

    • 3722
      Citations
    20002024

    Research activity per year

    Personal profile

    Research Overview:

    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.

    Teaching Overview

    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.

    Collaborations

    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.

    Indicators of Esteem

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

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    • SDG 4 - Quality Education
    • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

    Education/Academic qualification

    PhD, PhD in Public Health - Obesity in Young Aduts

    Award Date: 21 Nov 2011

    Masters Degree, Masters in Public Health

    Award Date: 23 Nov 2000

    Doctoral Degree, MBBS, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

    Award Date: 21 Feb 1991

    External positions

    External Examiner for MSc Masters programmes, University of Dundee

    1 Jan 202231 Dec 2025

    External Examiner for MPH, University of Glasgow

    1 Sept 201731 Aug 2022

    Area of Expertise

    • Education
    • Health Profession Education
    • Inclusivity in Higher Education
    • Educational and cultural transition
    • Mentoring in Higher Education
    • Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
    • Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Task shifting in resource limited settings

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