About Us
Our Team
Dr Priya Ajay Chauhan,
MD, Founder-Director
Dr. Priya Ajay Chauhan has over 32 years of experience practicing Gynecology and Obstetrics in Denmark, as of 2025. Her father, a 91-year-old retired Indian Air Force officer, has been the key influence in her journey to becoming a doctor. It was his reminder that inspired her to give back to her home country, India.
After many years of postponing her decision to return, Dr. Chauhan has been motivated by India’s recent strides in grassroots development, healthcare infrastructure, and digital transformation—driven by the collective will of the Government and corporate agencies. She now feels the time is right to return and contribute to the nation’s healthcare system. Her vision is to integrate her professional experiences from Denmark into the Indian healthcare setup.
www.gynaekolog.dk
gynecology.yolasite.com/about-us.p
Dr. Kusum V Moray, MD Community Medicine, Executive Director
Dr. Kusum V. Moray holds an MD in Community Medicine from Christian Medical College, Vellore. After completing her degree, she has worked in implementation research, health economics, reproductive and maternal health, and tuberculosis. Over the past decade, she has contributed to diverse healthcare settings across India, including government and private medical colleges, research institutions, and national and international non-profit organizations.
Dr. Moray is deeply passionate about gender and health within the broader framework of public health. As Executive Director, she is dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of rural women in Solapur district, Maharashtra. She is a lifelong learner and a firm believer in personal growth as a means to give back to society. Her interests include traveling, writing, reading, and listening to audiobooks.
LinkedIn: Dr. Kusum Moray
Dr Ajay Manohar Chauhan, MD Radiology
Dr. Ajay Manohar Chauhan is a graduate of Ambejogai Medical College and holds a DMRD from Nair Hospital, Mumbai. Since 1990, he has been working in Denmark as a specialist in radiology. His expertise spans MRI, CT, ultrasound, and general radiology.
Dr. Chauhan holds fellowships from the University of Toronto and Harvard Medical School, Boston. Inspired to contribute to improving rural women’s healthcare in India, he actively supports this initiative through his professional experience and commitment.
Dr. Shobha Shah, MD, Consultant
Dr. Shobha Shah, MBBS, MD (ObGyn), is a dedicated medical professional with an extensive career in obstetrics and gynecology. She has served as the Past President of the Solapur Obstetrics and Gynecology Society and the Solapur Indian Medical Association (IMA), becoming the first female president of the Solapur IMA. Her leadership earned her the “Best President Award.”
For over 26 years, Dr. Shah has been deeply committed to adolescent counseling and community health awareness. In 2004, she received the prestigious Shrimati Maharashtra Award. She has also been associated with Vivekananda Kendra, Solapur branch, for 27 years, contributing actively to its mission.
As a researcher, Dr. Shah has presented papers and posters at several state and national conferences, including AMOGS and Shiv Sagar, Assam, on topics such as yoga and pregnancy. Her work earned the Best Paper Award at AMOGS 2012.
Mr. Sandeep Bhaskar Jadhav, Media Head
Mr. Sandeep Bhaskar Jadhav is an experienced actor, director, writer, and educator, with over 17 years of experience as an art teacher and more than 22 years in theatre. He has acted in over 30 plays and worked extensively in children’s theatre. His film work includes acting roles in Elizabeth Ekadashi, Kagar, and Raundal, and writing and directing the film Sakharecha Jhaad.
Mr. Jadhav has also created more than 10 short and micro films, along with corporate films for organizations such as Mind Hospital, Tejaswi Plastics, and Buddhist International School, Solapur. He directed Pori Tuzha Nakhara, wrote lyrics for Sakharecha Jhaad, and collaborated with StreeArogya Rural Foundation, Belati. His short film Jai He received an award from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.
Holding degrees including M.P.A. (Performing Arts), M.A., A.T.D., and A.M. (Art Master), Mr. Jadhav is dedicated to using cinema as a medium for social awareness and empowerment.
Ms. Meena Gaikwad, Administrator
Ms. Meena Gaikwad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Karmveer Bhaurao Patil College, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. After her marriage, she moved to Pathri village in Solapur and completed a course in Tally ERP 9 at Ashwath Institute. She subsequently worked as an accountant at Lokmangal Tirhe Bank for one year.
After a career break to raise her children, Ms. Gaikwad met Dr. Priya Chauhan, who offered her an opportunity to work as an accountant and receptionist at Streerogya Kendra. She now manages administrative and financial operations at the center and takes pride in contributing to its mission of providing quality healthcare services to the community.
Ms. Poonam Gaikwad, Nurse-Leader
Ms. Poonam Gaikwad completed her General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) training at Sardarbi Institute Nursing College, Mohol. She gained practical experience by working for one year in gynecology at Sarada Hospital, Solapur, followed by a year in the ICU at Siddheshwar Multispeciality Hospital.
With five years of experience at S.S. Baldawa Neurosciences and Women’s Care Hospital—including service during the COVID-19 pandemic—Ms. Gaikwad has developed a strong understanding of the local healthcare system. Living in a rural area has made her acutely aware of the unique challenges faced by women in such regions. She is committed to supporting Dr. Priya Chauhan’s initiative to enhance the health and well-being of rural women.
Our Advisory Committee Members
Dr. Nirupama Sakhadeo
Dr. Nirupama Sakhadeo, MD, MRCOG, is a practicing gynaecologist with 25 years of
experience in Kolhapur. She serves as an Honorary Consultant at the Corporation Hospital
and is the Chairperson of both the PCPNDT Committee and the Maternal Mortality
Committee of Kolhapur district. She has also translated the book Unnatural Selection on
female foeticide into Marathi, which was published by Padmashree Dr. Rani Bang.
Yogesh Kalkonde
Yogeshwar Kalkonde, MD (Med, India), MSc (Clinical Investigations, USA), MD (Neuro,
USA)
Yogesh is a public health practitioner, researcher, and a neurologist. He is trained in internal
medicine in India and in neurology, immunology and clinical research in the United States
(US). Seeking bigger challenges, he left his faculty position in neurology in the US fifteen
years ago to work with communities that have limited access to health care. He worked in
rural and Adivasi regions of Gadchiroli for a decade and is currently working at a not-for-
profit organization called Sangwari in northern Chhattisgarh. The health issues of
marginalized populations often remain understudied and unaddressed. He is keenly
interested in strengthening health care in rural and Adivasi areas through documentation,
public health research for developing grass root level health care solutions, health system
strengthening and mobilizing young health professionals to take up these challenges. His
research is published in leading international journals such as the Lancet, Lancet Global
Health, Stroke etc. He serves on various technical advisory committees at the ICMR, Tata
Memorial Centre, NIMHANS and AIIMS, New Delhi and advises the Chhattisgarh health
department.
Lisa Lehner
Lisa Lehner is a social and public health researcher, qualified project manager, and an expert
on healthcare access, delivery, and justice. She holds a PhD in Science & Technology Studies
(STS) and Medical Anthropology from Cornell University, two MAs in Science Studies
(Cornell University, University of Vienna) and a double-BA in Sociology and Political Science
(University of Vienna). Her work lies at the intersection of medical anthropology, science
studies, public health, and implementation science. She currently holds positions as Senior
Researcher at the University of Vienna, as Medical Ethics Coordinator at the Medical
University of Vienna, and as Director for Health Programs at AmberMed, a non-
governmental clinic in Vienna (Austria) that provides medical care and social counseling to
people without health insurance coverage. She currently leads multiple third party-funded
research projects on the topics of antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical prescribing in
mental health care, as well as access and barriers in cancer prevention and therapy. An expert in qualitative methods and rapid assessment designs, her approach is intersectional
and focused on the marginalized needs of women*, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living
without health insurance, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs,
and sexworkers. – Personal website: https://www.lisa-lehner.org/
Prashanth N S
Prashanth N Srinivas is a medical doctor with work experience in primary care in southern
India. He obtained a master's degree in Public Health from ITM (HSMP 2007-08) and
subsequently a PhD in Public Health (through ITM) from the Universite catholique de
Louvain (UCL). He is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Health Systems & with the Center
for Adivasi (Indigenous) Health at the Institute of Public Health in Bengaluru (India), with
broad interests in studying social determinants of health and health inequities across
various axes of inequities in India. He is currently the Director of IPH Bengaluru (2023-2027).
He has lived and worked at a public health research field station set up by IPH Bengaluru at
the BR Hills Tiger Reserve in South India. Through a fellowship from the DBT/Wellcome Trust
India Alliance, he has set up collaborations to examine health inequities in indigenous
communities in multiple remote forested locations in southern, central and northeast India.
He has experience with research methods on health policy and systems, particularly realist
evaluation, implementation research and participatory action research approaches, in
addition to experience with quantitative epidemiological methods. He is part of research
consortia on health systems strengthening for OneHealth and mental health in primary
health care. He is active in promoting a southern, LMIC-led leadership in global health
research. He serves on editorial boards of PLos Global Public Health, Health Policy &
Planning and International Journal for Equity in Health.
Girish Vaze
Dr. Girish Vaze, MBBS, MS (ENT), completed his medical education, including MBBS and MS
(ENT), at B.J. Medical College, Pune. After his postgraduate training, he gained further
experience in ENT while working in Mumbai and Pune for a few years. He then moved to the
United Kingdom, where he spent five years in various ENT training positions. Upon returning
to Pune, he practiced as a Consultant ENT Surgeon in private practice for three years before
relocating back to the UK. There, he retrained as a General Practitioner and has since
established a rewarding career in primary care. He has been working as a GP Partner in a
General Practice in Darlington, UK, since 2007, maintaining a continued interest in ENT and
comprehensive patient care.
Punam Vaze
Dr. Punam Vaze, BMMS, MS (ENT), MRCGP, completed her MBBS and MS (ENT) from B.J.
Medical College, Pune. Following her postgraduate training, she worked in the United
Kingdom for five years in various ENT training positions. After returning to Pune, she
practiced as a Consultant ENT Surgeon in private practice for three years. She then moved
back to the UK, where she continued working in ENT for an additional four years.
Subsequently, she retrained as a General Practitioner and has been working as a GP in the
UK since 2009, providing comprehensive primary care with a special interest in ENT-related
conditions.
