GKII–NIHFW Workshop Sharpens Systems Thinking Skills

On October 13, 2025, the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) at Johns Hopkins University partnered with the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) to host “Systems Thinking through Friday Night at the ER” at the NIHFW campus in New Delhi.

The workshop was led by Dr. Cyrus Engineer, DrPH, Distinguished Professor of the Practice at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Dr. Shweta Jindal, MD, MPH, Chief of Party at Johns Hopkins India Private Ltd; and Aman Mohan Mishra, Director, Training and Stakeholder Engagement at Johns Hopkins India Private Ltd. A total of 46 NIHFW students from MPH, PhD, and MD programs participated.

Through the Friday Night at the ER simulation, participants engaged in a fast-paced, hands-on exercise illustrating how interdependent decisions affect outcomes across a health system. The session emphasized collaboration, innovation, and data-driven management, helping participants translate theory into practical systems thinking and leadership skills.

Participants described the experience as eye-opening and deeply relevant to real-world public health challenges. “It not only strengthened our teamwork but also tested our priorities,” said Shruti Manmode, MPH student. Melody Lalenkawl Pudaite added, “The workshop combined theory, fun, and hands-on learning. It reminded me that teamwork is easier said than done, but it’s what makes or breaks public health.”

The workshop reflects GKII and NIHFW’s shared commitment to building leadership capacity and fostering systems-oriented learning for the next generation of public health professionals in India.