Key Announcements and Meetings

The Delhi leg of the visit saw two significant launches on 18th November. In the morning, the Women in STEMM Fellowship was inaugurated at the American Centre in collaboration with the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) and the American India Foundation (AIF). This fellowship program aims to advance gender equity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine through mentorship and capacity building.

Later in the day, at the India Habitat Centre, JHU unveiled the TB Free Schools in India initiative, developed in collaboration with the Government of India, Serum Institute of India, AIIMS Gorakhpur, and the Mukul Madhav Foundation. The program focuses on school-based TB detection using AI-driven tools and cost-effective diagnostic methods, showcasing scalable approaches to eliminating tuberculosis in India.

The evening event began with a lamp-lighting ceremony and a video chronicling JHU’s nine decades of impactful work in India. Distinguished speakers and panelists offered insights into key themes:

  • Judd Walson highlighted transformative health systems initiatives, emphasizing the intersection of AI and healthcare for advancing outcomes.
  • Dr. Mathuram Santhosam discussed India’s contributions to global health and the challenges of introducing vaccines, stressing the power of partnerships.
  • Somesh Kumar shared Jhpiego’s successes in strengthening health systems, noting its reach of 11.4 million women through primary healthcare.
  • Uttara Bharath and Aarushi Bhatnagar described behavior change communication strategies under the Thotraa Noyi Illaa Thamizhagam initiative to combat non-communicable diseases.
  • Vidya Malve provided an overview of JHU’s Center for Infectious Diseases in India, announcing upcoming research facilities in Pune and Chennai.

President Ronald J. Daniels reiterated the importance of US-India collaborations in education, research, and innovation, with a strong focus on AI and data science as tools for transformative global impact.

The event concluded with a dynamic panel discussion on “Unlocking India’s Potential through International Higher Education Partnerships”, moderated by Vikram Chandra. The discussion focused on ranged from scaling education access to fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems and leveraging AI for workforce readiness.

The events on November 18 showcased JHU’s vision for long-term engagement in India, setting the stage for future collaborations to drive research excellence and societal impact.