Ms. Chandini Divakar is a dedicated Public Health Professional with a Master’s degree in Public Health and a multidisciplinary background encompassing epidemiology, healthcare management, research, maternal and child health, and public health administration. She has developed expertise in addressing grassroots health challenges through evidence-based approaches, community engagement, and integrated health interventions.

Currently, she serves as a State Epidemiologist with the National Health Mission, State Health and Family Welfare Department, Karnataka, where she contributes to disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological analysis, and strengthening public health systems. Her role involves coordinating with district surveillance units, healthcare institutions, and multiple stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and IHIP-IDSP activities.

Research & Public Health Contributions

Ms. Divakar previously worked as a Research Officer at the Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Bangalore, where she contributed to public health research, program implementation, and evaluation. She served as a Program Manager for the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) project, supporting intervention planning, implementation strategies, resource management, and research dissemination.

Her research interests include Maternal Health, Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), Women’s Empowerment, RMNCH+A, Epidemiology, Non-Communicable Diseases, Implementation Research, and Health Systems Strengthening. She has been actively involved in research projects focusing on early childhood development, parenting practices, and community-based health interventions.

Professional Experience & Leadership

With experience across government health programs, academic institutions, and international health organizations, Ms. Divakar has demonstrated strong capabilities in:

• Disease surveillance and outbreak response
• Epidemiological investigation and data analysis
• Public health program management
• Research coordination and implementation
• Community health assessment and intervention planning
• Health system strengthening initiatives

Her association with organizations such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provided her with valuable exposure to neuro-epidemiology, immunization programs, field investigations, and community-based health monitoring.

Certifications & Capacity Building

Ms. Divakar has enhanced her professional competencies through specialized training programs including Advanced Diploma in Clinical Research & SAS, Maternal Infant Young Child Nutrition, Good Clinical Practices, systematic review and meta-analysis, research methodology, ethical guidelines, qualitative research, and behavioral intervention design.

These certifications reflect her commitment towards continuous learning and advancing evidence-based public health practices.

Research Publications

Ms. Chandini Divakar has contributed to scientific literature through publications focusing on cancer survivorship and maternal health-related research. Her research work demonstrates her ability to contribute to knowledge generation and application of research findings for improving health outcomes.

Areas of Expertise

• Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance
• Maternal and Child Health
• Nutrition and Early Childhood Development
• Public Health Research
• Implementation Science
• Health Program Management
• Community Health & Health Systems Strengthening

Eligibility for Young Researcher Award

Ms. Chandini Divakar is eligible for the Young Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels in recognition of her emerging contributions to the field of public health research and practice. Her strong academic foundation, professional experience in epidemiology and health systems, involvement in impactful public health programs, research publications, and commitment towards evidence-based healthcare demonstrate her potential as a young researcher. Her work integrating research, surveillance, community interventions, and public health management reflects innovation and dedication towards improving population health outcomes.