Saumya Swaminathan is chief scientist at the World Health Organization. She is a pediatrician and clinical scientist known for her research on tuberculosis and HIV.
Wiki/Biography
Soumya Swaminathan was born on Saturday, May 2, 1959, in Chennai, India (age 65; as of 2024). Her zodiac sign is Taurus. Soumya did her Bachelor of Medicine in Internal Medicine from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and her MD in Pediatrics from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Soumya completed a postdoctoral medical fellowship in neonatology and pediatric pulmonology at the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She also held a fellowship in the Department of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases at the University of Leicester, UK. In 1992, Soumya returned to India and joined the National Tuberculosis Institute in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Soumya continued her research on tuberculosis and HIV for almost 18 years.
family
Soumya Swaminathan grew up in a family where education and science were the main pillars. Saumya Swaminathan has two sisters. Soumya and her family live on the Indian Agricultural Research Institute campus. CV Raman and Vikram Sarabhai are their regular guests.
Parents and siblings
Saumya’s father’s name is Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan. He is an Indian agricultural scientist and leader of the global green revolution. He is also known as the father of the Green Revolution. Her father was the one who introduced and further developed high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. Soumya also sometimes met farmers whenever her father took her on field trips. Soumya’s father is her role model.
Soumya Swaminathan and her father
Meena Swaminathan is Soumya’s mother. She is an Indian educator in the field of preschool education. Meena Swaminathan has written several books on drama and child development topics. Soumya’s mother opened a nursery for the children of poor construction workers. Saumya Swaminathan’s sister, Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, is professor and head of the Economic Analysis Department at the Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, and chairman of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai. Soumya’s second sister Nitya Swaminathan is a senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK.
Soumya Swaminathan with her father, mother and two sisters
Childhood photos of Soumya Swaminathan (right) with her parents and sisters
husband
Soumya Swaminathan is married to Ajit Yadav. He is an orthopedic surgeon.
Profession
as a researcher
Soumya Swaminathan studies tuberculosis, its various risk factors and HIV. Swaminathan and her colleagues are among the first to expand the use of molecular diagnostics for TB surveillance and to deliver TB treatment to underserved populations. She is part of the TB Zero City project in Chennai, which aims to create islands of elimination in partnership with local governments, institutions and grassroots associations. In 2009, Swaminathan became coordinator of the World Health Organization’s Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva.
As Director General of ICMR
Soumya became director of the National Institute of Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai, in 2013 and was appointed director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2015.
Soumya Swaminathan serves as Director, ICMR
Soumya is the second female leader of the agency and oversees 30 research facilities. As Director General, she works to integrate science and evidence into health decision-making and build the research capacity of Indian medical schools.
Soumya Swaminathan resigns as ICMR director
As Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization
In October 2017, Soumya Swaminathan was appointed Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Soumya Swaminathan Deputy Director-General, World Health Organization
As chief scientist of the World Health Organization
Due to Soumya’s tireless efforts and passion, she was promoted to WHO’s first Chief Scientist in 2019, focusing on integrating health-related research into clear guidelines for all countries.
Soumya Swaminathan Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
In 2021, Swaminathan was also appointed to the Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP), an expert group chaired by Patrick Vallance that advises the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Awards and Honors
- In 2008, Soumya received the Indian Council of Medical Research Kshanika Lecture Award from Ghulam Nabi Azad, India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in New Delhi.
Soumya Swaminathan wins Kashanika Lecture Award
- In 2011, Soumya received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Society of Applied Microbiologists.
- In 2012, she was awarded the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Award.
- In 2012, she was awarded the title of Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of India.
- Soumya received an award from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2013.
- In 2016, Soumya Swaminathan received the NIPER ASTRAZENECA Research Award.
- In August 2020, Soumya Swaminathan was honored to receive an advisory role from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for her role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu. recognized.
Facts/Trivia
- According to Swaminathan, she was a big fan of Indian literature. She loved reading Sherlock Holmes, Jane Eyre, adventure books, Rabindranath Nath Tagore books.
- Sumia has always helped underserved populations, even raising funds to provide antiretroviral drugs to families affected by the HIV epidemic.
- When Soumya goes to the farm with her father, the farmers listen to her various health tips.
- According to Soumya, she has known about a doctoral thesis since she was five years old because during her childhood, many doctoral students would come to her house to discuss work with her father.
- As a child, Soumya often visited her father’s laboratory and experimental wheat fields, which inspired her to become a medical researcher.
- According to Soumya, her friends and family are her biggest source of support.
- Soumya Swaminathan frequently visits various schools and colleges to deliver educational lectures.
Soumya Swaminathan visits and delivers educational lectures
- Soumya wanted to become a veterinarian as she loved animals, but all her friends were preparing for medical entrance exams, so she started preparing for the same.
- As a researcher at the National Tuberculosis Institute in Chennai, Soumya often visits the homes of poor TB patients. She also cared for the orphans of her patients.
- Soumya has been working with Dr PR Narayanan, director of the Tuberculosis Research Centre, for many years.
- On March 30, 2024, President Drupadi Murmu awarded the Bharat Ratna Award to Ms. Swaminathan; the award was received by her sister Dr. Nitya Rao.
Dr. Nitya Rao, daughter of Ms. Swaminathan, accepted the Bharat Ratna Award from President Droupadi Murmu on behalf of Ms. Swaminathan on March 30, 2024
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education