Nitasha Chaudhary, MPH currently works at the Homeland Security Studies & Analysis Institute (HSsaI), a federally funded research institute that delivers independent and objective analyses to the Department of Homeland Security. Nitasha joined HSsaI in April 2009 as a Senior Associate Analyst.

Her work is specific to the food and agriculture sector, in which she provides support in policy development, decision making and evaluation of new ideas to the Office of Health Affairs, an agency within DHS. Prior to joining HSsaI, Nitasha spent approximately four years at the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). As a Program Associate at NACCHO, Nitasha worked on various projects leveraging the support and development of preparedness at the local level. Nitasha received a B.A. in Health Care Administration and Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1999. She also received a Masters in Public Health from The George Washington University (GWU). It was at GWU that she realized that the health South Asian Americans in the Washington, DC area is being overlooked. Specifically, South Asian Americans living in low income families and those who have immigrated more recently, face numerous health challenges, and yet little is known about how and why these challenges exist. To help eliminate these health disparities, Nitasha works closely with GWU in raising the visibility of health issues amongst this minority population.

Srilekha Reddy Palle graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University in 2008. She is currently working as a Rehab Director in Rehabcare/Kindred. She is very passionate about patient care and patient center environment. Highly encourages clinicians to practice and perform evidence based practice. Aside from her professional life, in her personal life, she serves as executive secretary in Durga temple that is located in Fairfax center, VA. She also heads the  Cultural Committee and Media Committee in the temple. She works with other community organizations in the local community on behalf of Durga temple to raise awareness of Mandir as an integrated center for Hindu education and Indian culture . She is blessed with supportive parents and a loving husband, Srinath Reddy and adorable children Mahat and Shirdi ages 10 and 4.

Ami M. Shah, MPH currently works at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR), one of the nation’s leading health policy research centers and the premier source of health policy information for California. She joined the CHPR in March 2011 as a Health Policy Analyst and is leading an effort to produce meaningful health statistics for smaller geographic areas and for ethnic minority populations. Prior to CHPR, Ami worked at the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) in Chicago, IL for 9 years. At SUHI, she led Sinai’s Improving Community Health Survey which took flight and grew from a local survey in 6 communities to 10 and published a number of journal articles and reports that led to numerous grants for interventions to improve health in the surveyed communities. In 2011, these efforts resulted in a book publication, Urban Health, by Oxford University Press, describing the survey and how the ensuing interventions are combating disparities. In addition to her leading role in the survey, Ami directed a community navigation project for breast health, Helping Her Live that expanded access to mammography screening and follow-up services to low-income and uninsured women on the Westside of Chicago. Ami has also walked 40 miles in a weekend in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk for the past 4 years.

Ami is committed to social justice and also previously consulted on projects internationally with non-profit organizations such as SEWA and BRAC, with an emphasis on gender equity, workforce development, and economic development as a means to improve health. She has served on the board of the Indo-American Heritage Museum, Health Policy Research Group and is honored to join the SAPHA national board. Ami has been a SAPHA member since 2003 when she helped start the Chicago SAPHA local chapter. In her spare time, Ami enjoys traveling, hiking, her yoga practice, and ice cream.

Karishma Dhru is the Communications Associate at the Mental Health Association of Maryland a non profit organization advocating for Marylanders living with mental illness.  Dhru received her undergraduate degree in public and community health from the University of Maryland College Park. After completion of her undergraduate degree she worked at the Food and Drug Administration. She has obtained her Community Health Education Specialist certification whereby she can inform and reach her community members. Dhru has worked at the Montgomery County  Department of Health and Human Services, Asian American Health Initiative, as an intern as well as a contractor for a limited time.  She is currently obtaining her Masters in Public Health focusing on Maternal and Child Health. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies she is dedicated to serve her community with health education and advocacy for those underserved.

 Dr. Aggarwal  is the Co Principal Investigator of the Clinical Core of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, and an  Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences at  the Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Aggarwal's research focuses on the epidemiological studies aging and dementia. with particular emphasis on adverse cognitive and physical health outcomes across different racial and ethnic groups. 

She currently represents the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center on the NIA funded Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study ( ADCS) group. This Clinical Trial group is responsible for designing and conducting novel and innovative clinical trials to prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's Disease.

Recognized for her "field" expertise (having performed over 1500 neurological exams in the homes of participants)  in conducting epidemiological and community studies that require brain donation at the time of death, she is routinely asked to collaborate with other investigators at the national, state and local levels to guide their efforts in similar types of studies.

Dr. Aggarwal is a recent graduate from the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum through the American Academy of Neurology. She continually works with racial and ethnic minority communities in Chicago, to promote understanding and civic engagement on the issues of common conditions that occur in aging, including  cognitive impairment, dementia and physical disability.

She serves on multiple committees and Boards for various  Medical Societies and Community Organizations, including the American Medical Women's Association, Minority Recruitment Core of the ADCS, Advancing Women's Health Working Group, and Lincoln Park Village.  

She received her B.Sc. Honors in biology from the University of Windsor, and her MD from the Chicago Medical  School. She completed her neurology  residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and her Aging and Neurodegenerative Fellowship at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging  

Dr. Nasiya Ahmed is assistant professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine; she is also medical director of the Memorial Hermann Hospital Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit.  Dr. Ahmed is a 2002 graduate of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Arizona.  Her research focuses on improving geriatric health in the South Asian population.


 

Dr. Memoona Hasnain is a medical educator and researcher. She is an Associate Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Illinois (UIC) College of Medicine.  She holds adjunct appointments in UIC’s Department of Medical Education, College of Nursing and the School of Public Health. Dr. Hasnain received her medical degree from Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.  Her previous experience includes clinical work in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Pakistan and academic work in the Department of Medical Education, WHO Center for Research and Training of Health Professionals, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. She earned a Masters degree in Health Professions Education and a doctorate in Public Health, both from UIC.

The primary focus of Dr. Hasnain’s work is at the intersection of medicine and public health. She is a nationally recognized expert on health disparities and minority health issues. Her current research endeavors emphasize: a) patient-centered care and social determinants of health, with a special interest in HIV/AIDS, and quality care issues for understudied and at-risk populations, and, b) development and evaluation of educational interventions to ensure that future health care providers can effectively address quality and health disparities issues.  Dr. Hasnain serves as the Director of UIC College of Medicine's longitudinal "Patient-centered Medicine Scholars Program" which includes a service learning program for medical students focusing preparing future physicians to address health needs of vulnerable populations. The program is organized in concentrations including domestic violence, geriatrics, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and immigrant & refugee health. Dr. Hasnain also serves as the Director of the Health Disparities Scholars Program for the Family Medicine Residency at UIC and teaches at the UIC School of Public Health.

Dr. Nazeera Dawood is currently the Program Manager for Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness Division of Health Promotion.  She received her medical degree from Bangalore University in India and a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  Dr. Dawood,along with her team, directs the activities of sixhealth promotion coalitions formed to address major chronic diseases exploding in Fulton County communities. This includes the Diabetes Community Action Coalition of Fulton County.Under Dr. Dawood’s leadership, Fulton County chronic diseasecollaborative partnerships have grown to over 400businesses, organizations and individuals.She worked as a senior research scientist at Emory University for over 5 years.  She served on the President Commission on Race and Ethnicity and the Transforming the Community Project at Emory University.  She has been honored with numerous awards and volunteers with numerous organizations using her time and energy to develop and implement programs and activities that affect the most venerable in the United States, India and other countries around the world. She believes in galvanizing the energies and empowering all citizens to collectively address chronic health issues and the importance of policy, system and environmental changes as major weapons in the fight against the proliferation of chronic diseases.She has developed effective communication skills in teaching medical students and providing education and counseling services to members of the community. Additionally, she has published journal articles and delivered several presentations on her research findings. Being proficient in seven languages she can work with individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Bindu Garapaty, holds a doctorate degree in clinical psychology and is the co-founder of The Happy Leader, LLC. Her research has focused on leadership development, cultural identity and self-awareness. Her pioneering training model incorporates identity development, sustaining well-being, leadership style, and mentorship. The training curricula focus on increasing happiness, improving performance,  overcoming adversity and enhancing the human experience of resiliency for youth and adults. Dr. Garapaty’s presentations have included both national and international forums in areas of leadership, education, and women’s health.

As a Maternal/Child health consultant, Dr. Garapaty has worked with University of Illinois at Chicago and NorthShore University HealthSystems to advance public awareness and understanding of perinatal mood disorders. By working on a statewide innovative model in perinatal mental health, supported by Federal and State funding agencies, she was fortunate to be involved in programs that led to great strides in improving healthcare delivery in women’s mental health.

Dr. Garapaty has held various clinical and leadership roles within health care, hospital, university, private practice, for profit and not-for-profit organizations. Additionally, she has a longstanding commitment to volunteering and serving on non-profit boards. Her commitment to working with the South Asian community began as a volunteer and then a board member for Apna Ghar, a domestic violence shelter primarily serving Asian women and children. She served on the board of the Indo-American Heritage Museum, a virtual forum that engages with communities to celebrate the history, heritage, and contributions of Indian Americans. Currently she is the executive secretary of MySahana and a member of SAPHA’s national board.

As a former Assistant Professor/Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Garapaty has taught graduate school courses in the areas of diversity, child and adolescent development, community mental health, professionalization groups and seminars. She was administratively responsible for the oversight of training sites, placement of graduate students on clinical training rotations, and providing leadership and supervision for the training department. Working out, spending time with friends and family, traveling and creating new experiences are a few things that contribute to Dr. Garapaty’s happiness quotient, in keeping with her Happy Leader model.

Aparna Badkas OTR/L,CYI currently working at Reston Hospital as an Occupational Therapist.
She graduated from GMC Nagpur.She is passionate about her work in geriatric neuro and orthopedics.  She loves her work as occupational therapist and has been in management as a Rehab director for last 10 yrs. She is a dynamic member of Arthritis foundation of America.
Along with professional activities she is highly involved in local Rajdhani mandir and Yoga Vedanta Ashram and New Age sear leading yoga and meditation. In her free time she enjoyes to cook,paint and listen to music. She is a proud mother of two children Ankita 18 yrs Studies at VCU and Akshay 15 a 10 th grade student in louden county schools.