Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare (WISH) Foundation USA, has appointed physician Rakesh Kumar as its chief consultant – global health. Kumar will be tasked with advising on global strategy and scaling the foundation’s AI-enabled public health delivery model to underserved regions in the Global South.
WISH Foundation USA is a non-profit dedicated to scaling public health solutions for underserved populations through technology and innovation
With more than three decades of experience in public health, Kumar brings significant expertise from his previous roles in policy and program implementation. He has held senior positions with the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, various state governments, and global organizations like the United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO).
Most recently, he led Lords Education and Health Society (LEHS) as CEO, driving the expansion of comprehensive primary healthcare in India through the integration of digital health tools.
His contributions to public health include leading efforts for India’s polio eradication in 2014 and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination in 2015. He also played a key role in launching Mission Indradhanush, India’s largest immunization program, and was the architect behind the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN), which improved vaccine delivery across India.
"Kumar's appointment will help develop WISH's programs better and create a positive impact for the populations in the Global South," WISH Foundation USA said in a statement. His appointment comes as WISH aims to extend its public health solutions to low- and middle-income countries in the Global South, enhancing its impact through innovative technology.
Kumar has been recognized with numerous national and international awards and has published over 25 research papers. His expertise is expected to help guide WISH Foundation USA’s mission in advancing sustainable healthcare globally. He is an MD from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and a Fellow of the Global Health Leadership Program at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
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