RAGHURAM SHYAMSUNDER RAO | Health Specialist | Best Researcher Award

Dr. RAGHURAM SHYAMSUNDER RAO | Health Specialist | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant Director General at Central TB Division, Dept of Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, India

Dr. Raghuram Rao, the Assistant Director General of the Central TB Division in the Department of Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is a seasoned Public Health Specialist with over 22 years of experience. His expertise spans managing communicable diseases such as TB, Leprosy, and HIV, and he has significantly contributed to public health program implementation, climate change, environmental health, and bio-medical waste management. In his current role, Dr. Rao leads epidemiology, surveillance, World Bank and Global Fund projects, Ni-kshay digital health innovations, policy and planning, and the integration of TB services into the general health system. His research interests include communicable diseases, public health program implementation, and environmental health. Dr. Rao has authored multiple research publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals. His research skills include leading epidemiological studies, implementing large-scale health programs, and utilizing digital health innovations for public health improvements. 📊🩺

Professional Profiles:

🎓 Education

Dr. Raghuram Rao has a robust educational background in public health, which has laid the foundation for his extensive work in the field. He holds a degree in Public Health, specializing in communicable diseases. His academic journey has equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex public health challenges, particularly in the areas of TB, Leprosy, and HIV. Through continuous learning and professional development, Dr. Rao has remained at the forefront of public health advancements, contributing significantly to the implementation of health programs and research initiatives. 📘🔬🌐

Professional Experience

Dr. Raghuram Rao serves as the Assistant Director General at the Central TB Division, Dept of Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. With around 22 years of experience in public health, he has focused on communicable diseases such as TB, Leprosy, and HIV. His work extends to public health program implementation, Climate Change & Environmental Health, and Bio-medical Waste Management. In his current role, Dr. Rao leads epidemiology, surveillance, World Bank & Global Fund projects, Ni-kshay, digital health innovations, policy & planning, and the integration of TB services into the general health system. His dedication to public health is further demonstrated by his extensive research contributions in peer-reviewed national and international journals. 🩺📊🌍

Research Interest

Dr. Raghuram Rao’s research interests lie primarily in public health, with a focus on communicable diseases such as TB, Leprosy, and HIV. He is passionate about the implementation and impact of public health programs and policies. Dr. Rao’s work also extends to the fields of Climate Change & Environmental Health and Bio-medical Waste Management, where he explores the intersections between environmental factors and public health outcomes. His interest in epidemiology and surveillance is evident through his leadership in various projects under the World Bank and Global Fund. Additionally, Dr. Rao is keen on digital health innovations and their potential to revolutionize disease monitoring and health service delivery. His numerous publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals reflect his commitment to advancing knowledge in these critical areas of public health. 🌍📈💡

Award and Honors

Dr. Raghuram Rao has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to public health with numerous awards and honors. His dedication to combating communicable diseases such as TB, Leprosy, and HIV has earned him accolades from various national and international bodies. Dr. Rao’s innovative work in integrating digital health solutions into TB surveillance and management has been particularly celebrated. His leadership in World Bank and Global Fund projects has also garnered recognition, showcasing his ability to manage large-scale public health initiatives effectively. Additionally, Dr. Rao’s commitment to research and his extensive publication record in esteemed journals highlight his impact on the academic and professional community. His contributions to Climate Change & Environmental Health and Bio-medical Waste Management have further solidified his reputation as a versatile and influential public health specialist. 🌟🌍📜

Research Skills

Dr. Raghuram Rao possesses a comprehensive set of research skills honed over his 22 years in public health. He excels in epidemiology and surveillance, crucial for tracking and managing communicable diseases like TB, Leprosy, and HIV. Dr. Rao’s proficiency in policy and planning enables him to develop and implement effective health programs. His experience with World Bank and Global Fund projects demonstrates his capability in managing large-scale, international research initiatives. Dr. Rao is also skilled in integrating digital health innovations, such as Ni-kshay, to enhance TB service delivery and data management. His research has been widely published in peer-reviewed national and international journals, reflecting his ability to conduct rigorous scientific investigations. Additionally, Dr. Rao’s work in Climate Change & Environmental Health and Bio-medical Waste Management underscores his versatility and commitment to addressing diverse public health challenges. 🌐📊🩺

Publications

  1. Title: Need for operational simplicity and timely disbursal of benefits—a qualitative exploration of the implementation of a direct benefit transfer scheme for persons with tuberculosis in India
    • Authors: Mohan, M., Thangaraj, J.W.V., Pandey, S., Murhekar, M.V., Jeyashree, K.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Infectious Diseases of Poverty
  2. Title: Direct benefit transfer for nutritional support of patients with TB in India—analysis of national TB program data of 3.7 million patients, 2018–2022
    • Authors: Jeyashree, K., Shanmugasundaram, P., Shanmugasundaram, D., Mattoo, S.K., Murhekar, M.V.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: BMC Public Health
  3. Title: Automatic Interpretation of Line Probe Assay Test for Tuberculosis
    • Authors: Agrawal, J., Kumar, M., Tiwari, A., Anand, S., Kumar, N.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Proceedings of the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence
  4. Title: Differentiated TB care: Tamil Nadu’s achievements, plans and implications for national TB programmes
    • Authors: Shewade, H.D., Frederick, A., Suma, K.V., Ramachandran, R., Murhekar, M.V.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  5. Title: Sex-disaggregated patterns in tuberculosis treatment coverage and outcomes among a nationally representative sample of deaths in India: 2019–2022
    • Authors: Dandona, R., Kumar, G.A., Dora, S.S.P., Dandona, L., Rao, R.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia
  6. Title: Recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis in India: Findings from the 2019-2021 nationwide community-based TB prevalence survey
    • Authors: Giridharan, P., Selvaraju, S., Rao, R., Gangakhedkar, R.R., Bhargava, B.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: PLoS ONE
  7. Title: Prevalence and factors associated with tuberculosis infection in India
    • Authors: Selvaraju, S., Velayutham, B., Rao, R., Panda, S., Bhargava, B.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: Journal of Infection and Public Health
  8. Title: Mortality estimates of central nervous system TB in India
    • Authors: Inbaraj, L.R., Rade, K., Selvaraju, S., Rao, R.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  9. Title: Estimating the Burden of Tuberculosis in India: A Modelling Study
    • Authors: Mandal, S., Rao, R., Joshi, R.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: Indian Journal of Community Medicine
  10. Title: Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment in the Indian subcontinent: Systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research
    • Authors: Shringarpure, K., Gurumurthy, M., Sagili, K.D., Rao, R., Sachdeva, K.S.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: BMJ Open