GKII, July 09, 2025
This GKII Community has spotlights on Srujan Palkar, a Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) graduate and Global India Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Maanasi Marathe, a dual-degree MPH/MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School, Prakhar Misra a Sunil Kumar and Sumati Murli Research Fellow, and Reflections by GKII Intern Himalaya Kadari.
GKII, July 07, 2025
Himalaya Kadari joined GKII last year as a Program Intern with a goal of helping create new pathways for Indian women to access global opportunities. She played a role in shaping the early development of the new India RISE Fellowship, designed to open doors for women, by building a comprehensive resource database and designing strategies to help bring the program to life.
GKII, July 04, 2025
Despite widespread political growth and millions of people competing for government jobs, many Indian states struggle to fill public sector vacancies. Prakhar Misra, Sunil Kumar and Sumati Murli Research Fellow, is researching this paradox through a comparative study of recruitment institutions across India to uncover the institutional bottlenecks that keep key government positions vacant. His work will address the recruitment process and deepen the understanding of how institutional variations shape state capacity and public service delivery.
GKII, July 03, 2025
Meet Maanasi Marathe, a dual-degree MPH/MBA candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School, who is passionate about transforming healthcare systems through innovation, equity, and environmental sustainability. With a background in zoology and early fieldwork in wildlife conservation, she brings a unique systems-thinking approach to improving care delivery. “I’m passionate about applying a systems mindset to healthcare—bridging science, operations, and sustainability to improve both human and environmental well-being.”
GKII, July 01, 2025
GKII hosted a webinar, “Resurgence of COVID-19: Clinical Preparedness, Public Health Lessons, and the Road Ahead,” spotlighting insights from distinguished JHU India alumni.
Speakers:
Dr Brian Wahl, Asst Professor, Dept 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, MHS, Mental Health Advocate,
Dr Nitish Dogra, Public Health Physician & Author (Moderator).
The speakers addressed emerging questions around recent COVID-19 case surges in India, and what it means for long-term health system preparedness.
GKII, June 24, 2025
In this edition, we spotlight Srujan Palkar, a Johns Hopkins SAIS graduate and Global India Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where he works at the intersection of foreign policy, strategic technology, and South Asia’s global role. From founding the South Asia Society at SAIS to shaping new conversations on India at leading policy forums in Washington, D.C., Srujan reflects on his journey, the mentors who guided him, and the foundational skills often overlooked in global policy careers.
GKII, June 23, 2025
In this edition of our News Digest Newsletter, we showcase the impact of our Girish & Himangi Rishi Student Travel Awards, now detailed in our brand‑new Impact Report. It highlights 22 students who’ve pursued hands‑on global health research in India, from TB and HIV care to digital innovation. We also celebrate the 2025 Sunil Kumar & Sumati Murli Research Awardees: Rose Pollard Kaptchuk and Prakhar Misra, who are transforming transgender health access and unraveling governance challenges in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh with their PhD work.
GKII, June 16, 2025
GKII is excited to share the 2025 recipients of the Sunil Kumar and Sumati Murli Research Award. Rose Pollard Kaptchuk and Prakhar Misra, two outstanding PhD students at Johns Hopkins University will receive $8,000 grants to support high-impact India-focused research.
GKII, June 11, 2025
The GHRSTA program shared several presentations by past awardees. It highlighted the work of JHU master's students Siddhaparna Sannigrahi, Manvi Poddar, Divya Rao, and JaeLynn Taylor as they conducted impactful research and experiential learning in India. Executive Director Kunal Pal also outlined the Institute's four key areas of focus, including research, policy, community engagement, and education.
GKII, June 09, 2025
The Girish and Himangi Rishi Student Travel Award (GHRSTA) Impact Report is available now! Since the program was started by GKII three years ago, 22 students have been supported in undertaking experiential global health research in India. Working on a model of reciprocal learning, the award pairs students with mentors and Indian institutions to address real-world issues, from HIV and TB care to digital innovation and maternal health. Find out how this life-altering experience is shaping careers, communities, and the future of global public health!
GKII, June 05, 2025
Check out the latest Community Voices, with spotlights on the new Hopkins India Conference Hub, new hire Srishti Kapil, and School of Medicine Student Mihir Kumar.
GKII, June 02, 2025
The meeting introduced the Gupta Klinsky India Institute's (GKII) Girish and Himangi Rishi Student Travel Awards program, highlighting its focus on empowering JHU master's students to conduct impactful research and experiential learning in India. GKII Executive Director Kunal Pal outlined the Institute's four key areas of focus, including research, policy, community engagement, and education. Program Manager Beth emphasized the program's alignment with student learning objectives and its positive impact on participants.
GKII, May 16, 2025
“I appreciate the School of Medicine’s attention to holistic, comprehensive patient-centric care at Hopkins, and hope to carry this through the rest of my career in serving the patients and communities around me.”
GKII, May 14, 2025
With a background that spans journalism, filmmaking, and fiction writing, Srishti brings a storyteller’s heart and a strategist’s mind to her work as a new Communicatons Consultant for GKII. Srishti is a graduate of Delhi University and TISS and is passionate about using clear, creative communication to drive meaningful change. At GKII, she’s leading communications for the India RISE Fellowship and supporting broader communications goals.
GKII, May 13, 2025
Did you miss the conference? Then check out our hub for everything related to the inaugural Hopkins India Conference 2025, including panel summaries on Geopolitics and India–U.S. Relations; Inclusive Economic Development; Women at the Center; Higher Education; Development and Sustainability; New Challenges in Healthcare; and Tech Innovations.
GKII, April 24, 2025
The April edition of GKII's News Digest features key updates on Panelists and the Agenda for the Hopkins India Conference.
GKII, April 02, 2025
The April edition of Community Voices features spotlights on JHU Shakti, Rama Chellappa, and Medha Majety. It also features news articles with Shoumitro Chatterjee, Kunchok Dorjee, Gigi Gronvall, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Sridevi Sarma, Anita Shet, and more!
GKII, March 26, 2025
"Since the Industrial Revolution, maximizing the usefulness of new technologies has meant continually adapting and refining them, and this will also be true for AI and its applications,” — Rama Chellappa, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of electrical and computer and biomedical engineering, Interim co-director of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute.
Rama Chellappa originally aspired to be a teacher, like his father, but that changed when he was 15 years old, while living in Chennai, and listened to a radio broadcast of the Apollo moon landing. Impressed by this incredible feat of engineering and science, he decided he wanted to be an engineer.
GKII, March 24, 2025
“JHU is one of the few institutions where there’s both diversity in the patient population and in the range of conditions patients have. Here, I have the unique opportunity to interface with patients from all walks of life and patients whose conditions could only be seen in textbooks. Additionally, I am particularly interested in several translational immunology and oncology research labs at Johns Hopkins. After medical school, I aspire to be a compassionate physician, engage in clinical/translational research, and advocate for my future patients and community.”
March 21, 2025
Shakti, the Indian Classical Dance team at Johns Hopkins University founded in 2003, brings together a team that melds competition and art into dynamic performances featuring traditional steps set to fast-tempo beats, complex formations, and moving narratives. In this Q&A with Shakti team members, we discuss the importance of culture and how it has brought them to the Origins National Championship. A performance by Shakti will also feature as a highlight at the upcoming Hopkins India Conference.
GKII, March 20, 2025
The March edition of GKII's News Digest features a webinar on key findings from our Breakthrough Grants Program, speaking engagements at panels by faculty co-chair Sara Bennett, Deputy Director Neetisha Besra, and TB Free Schools partner Savita Kanade, and an update on our new Education Liaison Service.
GKII, March 19, 2025
Neetisha Besra, GKII Deputy Director, recently spoke at the Indiaspora Forum for Good 2025 in Abu Dhabi and participated in the Global AI Summit in Dubai. The forum convened members of the global Indian diaspora to discuss the role of private philanthropy in addressing global challenges. The panel featuring Neetisha alongside Milind Pant, Manjula O’Connor, and Mallika Janakiraman, explored key health priorities for the diaspora, underscoring the urgent need for collective action on women's health.
GKII, March 19, 2025
On March 1, 2025, the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIFHW), convened a strategic meeting in New Delhi to discuss priorities, innovations, and global leadership in public health. The meeting hosted a panel discussion to discuss strategies for strengthening India’s healthcare workforce and integrating cutting-edge innovations to enhance service delivery. Dr. Sara Bennett, Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and Co-Chair of the Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute, spoke at the panel and discussed the importance of institutional resilience, workforce development, and data-driven decision-making in advancing public health in India.
GKII, March 17, 2025
GKII’s recent Breakthrough Grants Webinar spotlighted research from JHU faculty collaborating with Indian institutions. Dr. Christopher Kemp (Assistant Scientist, Bloomberg School of Public Health) and Dr. Nishi Suryavanshi (Behavioral Scientist & Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Pune) shared insights on integrating mental health support into tuberculosis care. Dr. Sarah Benjamin-Neelon (Professor, Bloomberg School of Public Health) and Dr. Giridhar Babu (Professor, Public Health Foundation of India) presented findings on maternal metabolites and child health outcomes. The session highlighted the impact of cross-border research partnerships in addressing critical public health challenges in India.
GKII, March 14, 2025
The Gupta-Klinsky India Institute Education Liaison Service (ELS) has been established to support faculty and divisions across JHU in their India-focused education and research initiatives. ELS acts as a central hub, helping faculty and administrators engage effectively with Indian institutions, policymakers, and students. The service offers insights into India’s regulatory landscape, market trends, and partnership opportunities, ensuring JHU aligns its global education strategy with India’s evolving needs. Faculty members receive tailored consultations, access to research, and networking opportunities that help them launch and expand collaborations.
GKII, March 13, 2025
Savita Kanade, a TB Free School Initiative partner and Community Coordinator with BJGMC CTU, Pune, shared information about the launch of the pre-study tuberculosis awareness program in Pune schools. She discusses the team’s engagement with students, teachers, and parents, and describes what they found worked (and what didn’t) when educating communities about TB.
GKII, March 11, 2025
The March edition of Community Voices features spotlights on Chirag Parikh, Vishal Mundlye, and Yash Gulani. It also features news articles with Pravin Krishan, Devesh Kapur, and Smisha Agarwal.
GKII, February 21, 2025
The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering and Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, jointly hosted the Health Hackathon 2025, providing a venue for students to develop solutions for real-world healthcare challenges. Themed “Improving Health Through Accessible and Empowering Innovation,” the Hackathon saw over 2,600 students from top institutions across the world. Neha Verma and Damini Agarwal, two India-affiliated Hopkins alumni, represented MedTech companies incubated at Johns Hopkins.
GKII, February 19, 2025
Dr. Smisha Agarwal and Dr. Suruchi Gupta, from the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation at Johns Hopkins, recently led a knowledge exchange on telemedicine implementation in New Delhi. The three-day program provided international delegates an in-depth overview India's digital health ecosystem. The exchange produced strategies for telemedicine implementation in lower-middle-income settings, and emphasized the importance of clinical protocols, provider readiness, quality assurance, and community engagement.
GKII, February 19, 2025
“One of the most formative experiences in my journey was working on MediCircle, a startup aimed at improving access to oral chemotherapy drugs. Through this experience, I gained firsthand insight into the systemic challenges in healthcare, from disparities in access to inefficiencies in care delivery. It became clear to me that driving meaningful change as a physician requires not only clinical expertise but also an understanding of healthcare systems, policy, and economics.”
GKII, February 17, 2025
“Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, JH Health System and the wider Hopkins community have played a pivotal role in my professional journey and healthcare career here in the US.”
In our latest edition of GKII Alumni Insights, Vishal Mundlye, a Carey Business School graduate working for the at the Maryland Health Care Commission discusses volunteering at the Hopkins-India Conference 2025, how big data is the future, and his current role in helping improve access to quality, affordable, healthcare.
GKII, February 14, 2025
“India has a wealth of engineers, programmers, and analysts, making it an ideal place to build healthcare infrastructure. By combining expertise from Johns Hopkins with the needs in India, I believe we can expect immense progress in improving care and expanding access.”
Dr. Chirag R. Parikh, Director of the Division of Nephrology and Professor of Medicine, was drawn to nephrology by the interplay of chemistry and mathematics. His curiosity was sparked by the question of how such a small organ could have such a profound impact maintaining body homeostasis. This question led him to a career as a physician scientist, where his work as a nephrologist focuses on the care of patients with inpatient and outpatient kidney diseases, as well as kidney disease in the community.
GKII, February 24, 2025
The Latest News Digest for February showcase two new GKII events: The Hopkins-India Conference in Washington DC, and webinar featuring two awardees of our Breakthrough Research Grants. We also feature an update on the TB Free Schools Initiative, and the learnings from GKII's Girish and Himangi Rishi Student Travel Grant awardees.
GKII, February 12, 2025
A key milestone has been reached for GKII's TB Free Schools Initiative (TFSI): we have formally constituted the TFSI Project Steering Committee to help guide the program's efforts in addressing tuberculosis in school settings across India!
GKII, February 10, 2025
The GKII Girish and Himangi Rishi Student Travel Award empowers students to take their academic learnings beyond the classroom and into the real world, where their contributions can make a tangible difference in healthcare systems worldwide. Since its inception in 2023, the award has enabled 14 students to tackle issues ranging from infectious diseases to health policy reform. In this article, we take a closer look at the experiences of four recent recipients of the travel award — Hrishikesh, Autumn, Divya, and Jaelynn.
GKII, February 06, 2025
Our February 2025 "Community Voices" features a Student Spotlight on Dr. Piyush Singla, an MPH student at Bloomberg School of Public Health and an Alumni Spotlight on Anand Kapai, aCarey Business School alumnus and Vice President of Global Commercial Marketing at Siemens Healthineers. We also share updates on the TB Free Schools Initiative, the FICCI summit by Dr. Veronica Donahue, tips for international students from Dr. James Coker, and an interview with LBSNAA.
Dr. James Coker, January 31, 2025
Dr. James Coker, Director, Center for Biotechnology Education and Senior Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences recently spoke at the Wisdom Tree’s “Dream, Prepare, Success” webinar to share information on how international students can get the most out if their experiences and education. He also shared these shared practical tips for success and navigating the Johns Hopkins ecosystem of opportunities.
GKII, January 29, 2025
Piyush Singla, a Master of Public Health student, discusses how his work as an IAS officer has shaped his experience at Johns Hopkins through a strong sense of responsibility and purpose. He plans to translate his studies into sustainable, tech-driven solutions for underserved communities.
GKII, January 27, 2025
Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge in India, affecting millions each year. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, GKII is collaborating with PubMatic to support the TB-Free Schools initiative—a program dedicated to reducing TB incidence among schoolchildren and fostering healthier learning environments.
GKII, January 24, 2025
GKII and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) have partnered to deliver a cutting-edge leadership training program for India’s Civil Services officers: the Friday Night at Emergency Room (FNER) simulation. To explore the evolution of the FNER training, its impact on the participants, and the role of systems thinking in shaping the future of public administration, the JHU team leading this program – Neetisha Besra (NB), Aman Mohan Mishra (AM), Kanchan Pandey (KP), Meghashish Sharma (MS) and Siddharth Mohite (SM) came together for an in-depth interview.
GKII, January 22, 2025
In our latest edition of GKII Alumni Insights, Anand Kapai, a Johns Hopkins Carey Business School graduate and Vice President of Global Commercial Marketing at Siemens Healthineers discusses his career journey, the importance of contextual intelligence in global healthcare, and his advice for students looking to make an impact in the MedTech industry.
GKII, January 21, 2025
Our first news digest of 2025 features multiple video highlights from our trip to India, faculty op-eds and media mentions, and the latest in research and opportunities.
GKII, January 14, 2025
In November 2024, a Johns Hopkins delegation led by President Ron J. Daniels traveled across four cities in India — New Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. The delegation announced significant university investments in programs aligned with India’s national priorities, focusing on accelerating tuberculosis elimination, advancing gender equality in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine), and expanding palliative care access in rural communities. Check out the highlights from the trip in this video!
GKII, January 07, 2025
In this special edition of our Community Voices newsletter, we highlight spotlights from our Faculty, Alumni, and Student communities created in the past year. Check them out!