Alumni and Friends
The Harvard Chan India Research Center
Building on a Decade of Impact to Transform Public Health in India
Hosted by Sheila Sarma SM ’01 and Padmini Sekhsaria
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Harvard Club of New York City
About the Evening
Please join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Harvard Chan India Research Center, a decade-long collaboration between Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and leading institutions across India. Built on shared expertise and sustained partnership, the IRC has become a platform for advancing rigorous, policy-relevant research and translating evidence into action at scale.
Over the past decade, the IRC has driven large-scale studies, strengthened institutional capacity, shaped policy, and contributed to measurable improvements in public health across India. Its work spans critical areas including air pollution and health, maternal and child health, noncommunicable disease prevention, environmental and climate health, and large population-based cohort studies.
As we mark this milestone, we look ahead to the next decade of discovery, partnership, and impact in India. Together, we will advance bold ideas, deepen collaboration, and help shape a healthier, more equitable future for communities across the country.
Hearty hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.
Program
Welcome Remarks
Opening reflections on the IRC’s journey and the power of partnership in advancing global public health.
Panel Discussion
A moderated conversation highlighting the IRC’s research and programs—and sharing the vision for the Center’s future, including exciting new initiatives on the horizon.
Reception
An opportunity to connect with fellow guests, meet IRC faculty and leadership, and celebrate a decade of impact—and the years ahead.
Featured Speakers
Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, became Dean of the Faculty at Harvard Chan School in January 2024. An internationally recognized scientist and thought leader, his pioneering work has transformed our understanding of how environmental factors impact long-term health. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine and recognized as one of the world’s most highly cited scientists, Dean Baccarelli brings a vision of expansive collaboration and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Under his leadership, the School is forging new paradigms in public health research and education. Dean Baccarelli champions bold interdisciplinary initiatives and a culture where faculty, students, and staff will have the resources to develop impactful solutions to global health challenges.
The Director of the Harvard Chan India Research Center, Dr. K. “Vish” Viswanath is also Lee Kum Kee Professor of Health Communication in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the School. He additionally holds a number of scientific and leadership positions at both Dana Farber Cancer Institute, including significant work in health communications.
Dr. Viswanath works to influence public health policy and practice through knowledge translation and equity-focused research. He engages community organizations and stakeholders in participatory studies, documenting how communication inequalities, poverty, and other social factors drive health disparities. His research has also informed public health initiatives in India, applying evidence-based strategies to improve health outcomes and promote equity.
Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah is the Mark and Catherine Winkler Associate Professor of Environmental Reproductive and Women’s Health at Harvard Chan School, and an attending physician in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Massachusetts General Hospital.
As a physician-epidemiologist, her work bridges clinical care, population science, and environmental epidemiology to understand how environmental and modifiable risk factors shape reproductive, cardiometabolic, and gynecologic health across the life course. Dr. Mahalingaiah received the 2025–26 IRC seed grant for her project, Strengthening Personal Air Pollution Monitoring and Environmental Exposure Assessment of Women in the HeLTI India Cohort of Mysuru, South India.
Sheila Sarma SM ’01 also President of the SRS Family Foundation, a New York City–based organization dedicated to supporting youth and community development globally, with a particular focus on India. Under her leadership, the Foundation champions a holistic approach, investing in initiatives that span education, mental health, spirituality, and the arts.
Sheila is also a member of the Advisory Council of the India Research Center, where she is deeply engaged in advancing public health and well-being across India. She previously worked as a researcher at Gynuity Health Projects, an organization dedicated to ensuring individuals have access to safe and effective reproductive and maternal health care.
Padmini Sekhsaria is a Principal at the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, where she leads investments, global operations, and philanthropic initiatives, and serves as Vice Chairperson of Everest Industries. She is the founder of the Salaam Bombay Foundation, which has supported more than 3 million children across India, and brings over two decades of experience in youth development, public health, and vocational skilling.
Padmini serves on the boards of several organizations, including the India Research Center, and has been recognized for her contributions by the World Health Organization and with a Mayor’s Citation from Michael Bloomberg. She holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Anthony Dias, MPH ’04 is a highly experienced physician executive with a progressive 28-year track record of leading innovation at the intersection of public health, healthcare management and policy, informatics and clinical medicine. He developed and implemented business strategies to improve patient safety, healthcare quality, access to care, and to reduce costs in the national healthcare markets. physician.
Dr. Dias completed his medical training in Goa, India and is a member of the India Research Center Advisory Council. He has dedicated many years of service to Harvard Chan School including as President of the Harvard Chan Alumni Council and, currently, co-chair of the Alumni Giving Committee.
With any questions, please contact Vimbai Chitakunye, Director of Development:
(603) 557-0019 | vchitakunye@hsph.harvard.edu