Resurgence of COVID-19: Clinical Preparedness, Public Health Lessons, and the Road Ahead

On July 1, 2025, the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) at Johns Hopkins University hosted a timely webinar, “Resurgence of COVID-19: Clinical Preparedness, Public Health Lessons, and the Road Ahead,” spotlighting leading voices from the JHU India alumni community.

The session brought together:

  • Dr. Brian Wahl, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health
  • Dr. Ashish Goel, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences
  • Mona Sharma Rana, Mental Health Advocate; Founder, Manorathi Foundation
  • Moderator: Dr. Nitish Dogra, Public Health Physician, Author: The Corona Cinderella

A 360° View of the Pandemic Response

As India sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, the conversation was structured to reflect on how India — and the world — can respond better to rising COVID-19 cases, taking into account interconnected systems: health infrastructure, public behavior, and mental well-being.

Dr. Brian Wahl shared that while new variants like Nimbus and Stratus are emerging, there is no evidence of increased severity. COVID-19 is now endemic, with seasonal waves driven by waning immunity and evolving variants. He emphasized that vaccines and antivirals remain highly effective, and annual boosters are key.

Dr. Ashish Goel stressed the importance of clinical readiness and institutional preparedness. He called for proactive Rapid Response Teams, phase-specific treatment strategies, and clear public communication to counter misinformation. His reminder: the next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when.

Mona Sharma Rana shared hard-won insights from the frontlines of mental health during COVID-19. She emphasized that mental health must be central—not sidelined—in disaster response, especially for frontline workers, youth, and caregivers.  She shared a multi-tiered framework for resilience: teach Psychological First Aid at the individual level, build peer support networks at the community level, and integrate mental health into all health and disaster programs system-wide.

Dr. Nitish Dogra, public health physician and JHU Alumni Chapter Lead, moderated the session and shared reflections from his work with the EU delegation and NDMA during COVID-19. He underscored the life-saving power of human connection, a theme explored in his pandemic-era book.

GKII: A Platform for Alumni Impact

This event exemplifies GKII’s commitment to bridging public health knowledge and local relevance. By bringing together alumni who have worked at the intersection of policy, practice, and community, GKII continues to strengthen JHU’s engagement in India.