Founders

Sandeep Ahuja

Founder & CEO, Operation ASHA

Sandeep is a management and strategy expert. He co-founded Operation ASHA and has led it since 2006. Under his leadership, the population coverage of Operation ASHA has expanded by 500 times in 9 years. He is also an advocate for improved care for public health–specifically TB care for the bottom of the pyramid markets at the local, state, national and international level.

Before starting Operation ASHA, Sandeep was a member of the Indian Revenue Services (1991 batch). In the IRS, Sandeep played many roles, starting from implementation of excise laws in Mumbai, then tax fraud detection in Mumbai and later in Western India. Then he moved to a policy-making position in the Ministry of Finance and played a role in improving India’s export competitiveness. He authored a book on the Drawback Tax Rebate Program in India. Sandeep received many cash awards and commendations for excellent work during his tenure in the Indian Revenue Service.

Sandeep was conferred a Public Service Award by the University of Chicago in 2013. He was also invited by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as a keynote speaker on the Founder’s Day (Sir Sayyed Day) Celebrations in 2002. AMU also conferred on him the Abdul Aziz Medal, University Medal and National Merit Scholarship.

Sandeep has taught a short course on “Global Health Problems” at University of Chicago in 2008. He has also delivered lectures at various forums: Ivy League and other top universities and conferences across the world. He was a guest lecturer at the Indian Institute for Foreign Trade, PHD Chambers of Commerce, and the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics from 1999 till 2006.

Sandeep has a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy. During his stay in Chicago, Sandeep was awarded a Harris Fellowship and selected as a McCormick Tribune Community Leadership Fellow. He obtained a B.Sc. from Aligarh Muslim University, India.

Sandeep moved to a technology company in June 2017.

A partial average list of lectures and panel appearances that Sandeep has delivered is given below.

BOARD MEMBER:

1. Stop TB Partnership: 2009-12 representing NGOs from developing countries.
2. Advisory Board at GlobeMed, University of Chicago
3. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – CSR Committee for North Region
4. External Student Advisor for Dartmouth College, USA
5. Health Advisory Committee, Medtronic Foundation

JURY MEMBER:

1. GC-TBC Call II – TB Screening, Detection and Diagnostics, an initiative of IKP Knowledge Park, along with USAID, BIRAC, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: September 2015
2. Expert Panel of iVolunteer’s Award Selection Process: May 2015

APPEARANCES:

On Radio/TV:

1. Satya Mev Jayate with Aamir Khan, Star TV, Oct 26, 2014
2. NDTV, Mobile for Good Awards Ceremony, December 2015
3. News Asia, India’s Tuberculosis problem is the world’s problem, November 2015
4. National Public Radio, USA, Global Activism: Operation ASHA wants to stop Tuberculosis from making a comeback, January 2013, May 2011 and Feb 2008
5. ABC News, USA, Nightline, The Tuberculosis War: Fighting the Spread of TB, December 2010
6. ABC News, USA, International News, Jan 2011

On internet:

1. University of Chicago Law School (YouTube). Developing a Rights-Based Approach to Tuberculosis: Health Systems and TB Policy, September 2015
2. Life Beyond Tax, Tax India Online (YouTube), August 2015
3. International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery (IPIHD) (YouTube), The Last Mile: Operation ASHA’s Delivery Model, October 2014
4. University of Chicago Alumni Association(YouTube), Impact of Fellowships, December 2013
5. Microsoft, Battling Tuberculosis Through Microsoft Technology, December 2012
6. DW, India’s Health Workers use m-health to fight TB, June 2012
7. Making More Health: Achieving Individual, Family and Community Well-Being, Ashoka Changemakers: August 2011
8. University of Chicago, Fighting Tuberculosis in India’s Slums,: April 2011

In Print Media

1. Silicon Review, April 2015
2. Chicago Policy Review, Fighting Tuberculosis with Innovation and Collaboration, March 2013

LECTURES/ PANELS AT UNIVERSITIES:

1. Keynote speaker at “Creating CSR Partnerships –Delivering on Expectations in CSR”, Acropolis, February 2016
2. Innovation Space Conference, University of Chicago Delhi Center, September 2015
3. University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, May 2015
4. University of Chicago, Alumni Association, Alliancefor Civil Society, May 2015
5. Keynote Speaker, GlobeMed, University of Chicago, Annual Benefit Dinner, May 2015
6. National Consultation on mHealth technologies, IIT Madras, May 2015
7. Development Dialogue, Deshpande Foundation, February 2015
8. StanfordIndia Health Policy Roundtable, New Delhi, January 2015
9. Harvard College India Conference, “Policy-Making and Evaluation”, January 2015
10. London School of Tropical Medicine, Stakeholders Conference, Chennai, 2014
11. University of Chicago Delhi center, “Developing a Rights-Based Approach to TB”, December 2014
12. USAID, Higher Education Solution Network, “Case Studies on Successful Scaling – Global Health” Workshop, November 2014
13. Center for Innovation in Public Systems, “Best Practices in e-Governance MMP” Workshop, Bhubaneswar, November 2014
14. USAID/FAIDA Innovation Fair, Afghanistan, March 2014
15. University of Michigan, Asia Law Society, Ann Arbour, 2012
16. Wharton Business School, 2012
17. Duke University, India Summit, 2012
18. Carnegie Mellon University, November 2012
19. Banaras Hindu University, Faculty of Management Studies, Annual Social Entrpreneurship Event, January 2012
20. Wellesley College, 2011
21. University of Chicago: May, 2011
22. MIT, Sloan School of Business, 2010
23. Lal Bahadur Shashtri Institute of Management, New Delhi, March 2010
24. Harvard School of Public Health, 2009
25. University of Colorado, Denver, 2009
26. University of Illinois, Chicago, 2009
27. Dartmouth College, 2008

 LECTURES/ PANELS AT FORUMS:

1. Mobile for Good Awards, 2015
2. IKP Knowledge Park, September 2015
3. WHO, SIHI (Social Innovation in Health Initiative), Social Innovation Capacity Strengthening Consultation, South Africa, Cape Town, Nov 2015
4. CII Northern Region Annual Conference on Skill Development, Chandigarh, Nov 2015
5. Ennovent, “Careers in Impact: Exploring the social impact landscape”, New Delhi, May, 2014
6. World Bank, India Development Marketplace, Bhopal, 2013
7. Better Healthcare through CSR, New Delhi, September, 2013
8. IFC, “Strengthening the Private Sector’s Development Impact: Measuring Results” New Delhi, August 2012
9. TiEcon Annual Event, New Delhi, 2012
10. Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 2012
11. Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Annual Retreat, Mumbai, 2012
12. USAID MBPH Health Confluence, New Delhi, 2012
13. UN Convention, Chennai, December 2011
14. SOCAP Europe, 2011
15. World Bank, India Development Marketplace Workshop, Gurgaon, 2011
16. WHO, South East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, May 2008
17. Stop TB Partnership forum, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Jan 2008
18. Rotary clubs and many other social clubs in India and US

Co-founder & President, Operation ASHA

Dr. Shelly Batra co-founded Operation ASHA and has led the organization as President since 2005.

She is 2014’s Social Entrepreneur of the year, awarded by Schwab Foundation, renowned Senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Advanced Laparoscopy Surgeon, an Ashoka Changemarker, and a best-selling Penguin author. Shelly’s dedication to reaching the unreached started in 1991, when Shelly went into the heart of the slums in Delhi and provided pro-bono life-saving treatments, operations, free consultations, medicines, and counseling. She is actively involved with the Free Patient Department of Batra Hospital and Medical Research Center which is run for the benefit of poor patients. Shelly has contributed heavily through various media channels, such as television stations and newspapers, to impart medical knowledge and create awareness.

Shelly has taught on Global Health Issues at the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy, and has lectured at major universities, including Harvard School of Public Health, University of Illinois, UC Berkeley and Indian Institute of Science. She was an invited guest lecturer to deliver the Hippocrates Society Women in Medicine lecture at Wellesley College. Shelly also has a strong presence online by teaching a webinar for the CORE Group on the subject of Pediatric TB. She has represented Operation ASHA at meetings of the Stop-TB partnership, a wing of the World Health Organization. Her warm personality and integrity is a tremendous asset to Operation ASHA. In 2010, Shelly was declared an Ashoka Changemaker in view of her outstanding innovations in TB treatment and innovative methodology.

With her extensive medical knowledge and in-depth understanding, she brings the experience necessary for running a health NGO. She is skilled at donor relations and fundraising, and is a highly sought out speaker to represent OpASHA at numerous national and international platforms. Most recently she was the keynote speaker at Social Enterprise Summit, Geneva Health Forum 2014 and World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014 in Manila.

Dr. Batra has been the recipient of multiple awards, accolades, and recognitions, including the Exemplary Contribution Award for selfless work for the underserved, given by the Indian Medical Association. She holds an M.D. from King George’s Medical College, India.

Shelly is a powerful advocate for better policies in TB across the world. Her concern for the needy goes beyond TB, as she believes in health and a better life for all. In collaboration with others, she has started a social enterprise called SAATHI to provide clean drinking water at an affordable price to those living at the bottom of the pyramid.

Universities

1. Indian School of Business, Mohali : October 19, 2012
2. Delhi College of Engineering, 2008
3. Cambridge University, Global Health Roundtable, April 2012
4. Harvard School of Public Health: 2009
5. University of Berkeley: 2011
6. University of Illinois at Chicago: April 22, 2009
7. Wellesley College. Boston, 2011

Forums:

1. Geneva Health Forum, April 2014
2. WISH QATAR showcase presentation: December 8 and 9, 2013.
3. GHD online’s expert panel discussion related to Health IT & MDR-TB Treatment & Prevention, July 8 to 12, 2013.
4. Striking Poverty’s three week long online conversation on ICT Innovations, September 2013.
5. Global Innovation Roundtable (GIR) by National Innovation Council, Government of India: November 18-19, 2013
6. The International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery, Washington, DC: April 2013
7. US Embassy in New Delhi, September 2013
8. Rotary clubs and many other social clubs in India and US
9. CORE Group webinar on “Paediatric TB: Successes and challenges in the field”, April 5, 2012.
10. mHealth Summit, Washington, DC, 2010, 2011 & 2012
11. M4D, New Delhi: 2012
12. India Philanthropy Forum, Mumbai: 2011
13. India Development Marketplace workshop, Bhopal: 2011
14. Senior Citizens Club, South Delhi, 2011
15. WHO’s South East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi: May 2008, World TB Day 2009

Guest Speaker/Key note speaker

1. WEF, Manila, Philippines, May 2014
2. Geneva Health Forum, Geneva, April 2014
3. IPIHD, Washington, USA, April 2014
4. Social Enterprise Summit, Delhi, March 2014

Advisory Board Member of:

1. Palav