Dr Chris Parry, NHS Consultant Clinical Microbiologist
Dr Chris Parry is an NHS Consultant Clinical Microbiologist at the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, Director of Studies for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene programme at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and a visiting Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford and the University of Nagasaki.
Dr Parry qualified in Natural Sciences and Medicine at the University of Cambridge and trained in in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology and Tropical Medicine in the UK and Malawi. He has specialist accreditation in Clinical Microbiology and has completed the DTMH at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and a PhD from the UK Open University.
His research interests concern the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of severe bacterial infections with a focus on typhoid fever. He has been the PI for studies in Liverpool, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, and Fiji.
Dr Sanjib Kumar Sharma, BPKIHS
Sanjib Kumar Sharma (MBBS, MD, DM, FRCP, FISN, FESC, FACC) is Rector at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. He is Professor of Internal Medicine and Cardiology and Consultant Nephrologist. Prof. Sharma is involved in a number of international research projects, collaborations, and partnerships, including international registries, epidemiological studies, diagnostic studies, health system research, and clinical trials, in the fields of tropical diseases, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and NCD. He also led a community outreach program known as the KHDC-Nepal program (Prevention, early detection, and management of Kidney disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular diseases). At the level of primary care and the community, this initiative has a robust network. More than 100,000 individuals make up its cohort. Additionally, he participates actively in several national and international technical and scientific organizations. He has published more than 175 articles in national and international journals and has written booklets and chapters in books.
Dr Dhurba Shrestha, Siddhi Memorial Hospital (For Women and Children), Bhaktapur
He earned his MBBS degree from B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan, and later completed his MD in Pediatrics at the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), where he also gained valuable experience working at Kanti Children’s Hospital. He holds a PG Diploma in Clinical Echocardiography from the JROP Institute of Echocardiography in Delhi, which has helped him develop expertise in the use of ultrasound technology to diagnose heart conditions. Dr. Shrestha has also demonstrated a commitment to global health through his certification in Tropical Medicine from Nagasaki University in Japan. Dr. Dhruba Shrestha is a Senior Consultant Pediatrician and Head of Pediatrics at Siddhi Memorial Hospital (For Women and Children), Bhaktapur. He has been involved in the treatment of pediatric cases since 2008 and has dedicated his career to the well-being of Children living in Nepal. His special area of interest is Non-Invasive Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Research. He has been involved in various research activities in the field of pediatrics. His research is more focused towards Childhood infections, esp. Pneumonia, Vitamin D, and Cardiology.
Dr Damodar Gajurel, Civil Service Hospital
Dr Damodar Gajurel is a distinguished medical professional who holds the degrees of MD and M.Phil, and currently serves as a Professor of Internal Medicine at the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) in Nepal. In addition to his academic position, he is also a Senior Consultant at the Civil Service Hospital in Nepal. Dr Gajurel is a Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Program (DAAD) and has also been honored as a Fellow in Haematology/Oncology at the National University Hospital in Singapore. In recognition of his expertise and leadership, Dr Gajurel has also served as the Former Chairman of the Nepal Medical Council. He has also held the position of Past President of the Network of Medical Councils of South-East Asia (SEARO-WHO).
Dr Manisha Rawal
She graduated with an MBBS degree in 2001 from the University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) in Bangladesh, and went on to complete an MD in General Practice and Emergency Medicine in 2007 from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj in Kathmandu, Nepal. Currently, Dr Rawal serves as the Director at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) in Teku, Kathmandu. Prior to her current role, she worked as the Chief Consultant at STIDH and served as the Director of the Curative Service Division (CSD) at the Department of Health Services (DoHs) in Teku, Kathmandu. Dr Rawal has also held several key positions outside of Kathmandu. She previously served as the District Health Officer (DHO) and Medical Superintendent (MS) at the District Health Office andSalyan Hospital in the Karnali Province.
Research Activities:
- As a Principal Investigator (PI) in Recovery Trial Study from 2021 December till now.
- As a Principal Investigator(PI) in FUO study by WASH- University from December 2021 till now,
- As a Principal Investigator (PI) in ACT study with OUCRU Nepal from September 2022 till now.
Dr. Lochan Karki
Dr. Lochan Karki (MBBS, MD, FRCP (Edin.), FACP (USA) is currently serving as Rector and Consultant Physician and Professor of Internal Medicine of National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Immediate Past President of the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), he has held several key leadership roles in national and international health bodies. Over a decade of experience, he has contributed extensively to clinical practice, medical education, health policy, and public health advocacy in Nepal.
Dr. Karki has led several transformative initiatives, including developing national guidelines for COVID-19 management and antibiotic stewardship, and the launch of a telemedicine Call Centre to improve healthcare access in remote areas. He championed legislation for the healthcare worker protection act, trained over 12,000 health professionals during the pandemic, and endorsed the Women in Medicine initiative. Dr. Karki has made substantial contributions to medical research in Nepal, authoring and co-authoring over 18 peer-reviewed journal articles and a book, covering diverse topics such as infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, public health, and medical education leadership. His leadership in disaster response, curriculum reform, and faculty development—combined with active participation in international medical forums and a strong track record in research publication—highlights his enduring impact on Nepal’s medical and public health landscape and establishes him as a transformative figure in the country’s healthcare sector.
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director, icddr,b
Dr Ahmed has been working for the last three decades to simplify managing childhood malnutrition, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases. With Dr. Jeffrey Gordon of Washington University in St. Louis, discovered microbiota-directed complementary food (MDCF) – a novel intervention for childhood malnutrition. This discovery was highlighted by the prestigious journal Science as one of the scientific breakthroughs of 2019. As a member of the Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group of the WHO, he revised the global guidelines for the management of childhood acute malnutrition. He advises the Global Task Force on Cholera Case Control (GTFCC) on case management of cholera in children. He works closely with the Ministry of Health of Bangladesh, WHO, and UNICEF. He was the President of the Commonwealth Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (CAPGAN), an association of professionals in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition from the 54 Commonwealth nations. He is Professor of Public Health Nutrition of James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka and also Affiliated Professor of School of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle. He has more than 400 papers published in international journals and books.
Dr Md Shabab Hossain, Associate Scientist, icddr,b
Dr Hossain is a medical doctor and researcher, working as an Associate Scientist in the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). He completed his MBBS degree from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and did a one-year post-graduation clinical training in Internal Medicine in 2015. His research work is focused on public health nutrition, neglected tropical diseases, infectious diseases, enteropathy, and maternal and child health. He is currently working as the Principal Investigator of multiple ongoing clinical and community-based intervention trials. He is an Alumnus and lifetime member of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Laureate community, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), and the American Society of Nutrition (ASN). He has more than 30 scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals, i.e., the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, AJCN, the BMJ, etc.
Dr. Shiva Kumara Ojha, (Scheer Memorial)
Dr. Shiva Kumara Ojha is a dedicated medical professional originally from Chitwan, Nepal. He completed his early education at Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya before pursuing his intermediate science studies at Kathmandu University. Dr. Ojha earned his MBBS degree in Bangladesh and further advanced his expertise through a residency in Internal Medicine in the Philippines. He is also a fellow of the Philippine College of Physicians, reflecting his commitment to excellence in his field. Since 2020, Dr. Ojha has been an integral part of Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital, providing services in Internal Medicine and Critical Care units. His work merges clinical excellence with a passion for research, aiming to advance patient care protocols and contribute to evidence-based medical practices.
Outside his medical practice, Dr. Ojha balances his dedication to healthcare with a love for sports and travel. These pursuits reflect his belief in holistic well-being and his curiosity for diverse cultures and experiences.