Sumedh Kulkarni

Background

About Sumedh Kulkarni

I am a creative, multilingual and analytical public health professional specializing in Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), research, government engagement and policy advocacy. I am a trained medical doctor with a post-graduate degree in public health with specialization in health promotion. Over the last 12 years, I have curated my career with an aim to converge research, behaviour change, government policies, and creative communications production. My expertise spans across various public health domains including communicable and non-communicable diseases, health emergencies, maternal and child health, WASH, mental health, and gender-related issues. With a solid foundation in research (with a focus on qualitative and participatory methods) and evidence-based policy development, I have successfully advised governments, and local and international organizations on behaviour change strategies and implementation. My work has been instrumental in shaping rapid policy actions and creating impactful communication and advocacy strategies that drive sustainable change, by institutionalizing innovations. As an aide to top bureaucrats and technocrats, I have demonstrated high level of success in translating technical information into actionable insights – for cabinet-level policymaking, rapid field actions, media and public engagement during health emergencies. Throughout my career, I have worn many hats — consultant, researcher, government advisor, filmmaker, and creative writer — each role complementing the other to bring a unique perspective to my work in public health. I am particularly passionate about using multimedia and creative storytelling to engage communities and advocate for health and development issues. I pride myself with being successful at striking a balance between the strategic and operational aspects of public health work. Currently, I split my time between consulting for international organizations, and leading innovative media and communication design projects through Samagra Creations, a part-time venture I co-founded. My goal is to continue leveraging my diverse skill set to contribute to public health advancements on both local and global scales.