Prajwal Ciryam, Executive Director: Prajwal is a third year MD/PhD candidate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University. He earned a BA in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Neurobiology from Northwestern in 2006, as a participant in the Honors Program in Medical Education. Prajwal's first experience with Arasan Eye Hospital's model was when he volunteered there during the summer of 2005. Seeing the Arasan model first hand convinced him that local resources could be mobilized to combat the problem of blindness. Prajwal brings to CatarACT International a long-standing interest in finding economically sensible ways to overcome public health challenges both in the United States and abroad.
Reach Prajwal at prajwal.ciryam@catar-act.org.
Yuna Rapoport, Director of Public Relations: Yuna is a third year MD/MPH candidate at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She earned a BA in Economics from Northwestern in 2006, as a participant in the Honors Program in Medical Education. Yuna volunteered at Davidorf Eye Group the same summer of 2005. She encountered the latest technology cataract and other surgeries in the context of a private setting. Combining her passions for eye health and sustainable development, her work with CatarACT is helping to bridge the gap between the needs of patients and access to life-changing technologies like cataract surgeries.
Reach Yuna at yuna.rapoport@catar-act.org.
Amar Vira, Director of Programs: Amar is a third year MD candidate at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. He earned a BA in Anthropology from Northwestern in 2007. In the summer of 2006, Amar conducted anthropological field research in Bolivia. Amar brings to CatarACT International both interest and experience in international health and sustainable development.
Reach Amar at amar.vira@catar-act.org.
Dr. Gokul Kumar, Director of Legal Affairs: Gokul is an MD/MBA graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago. He received a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern in 2004. He has a keen clinical and public health interest in Ophthalmology and experience with the field both in the United States and in India. Gokul also has expertise in the development of business models and the logistics of creating and managing new organizations. He brings his acumen for business, science, and medicine to his efforts at CatarACT International. Gokul is pursuing residency in Ophthalmology at Washington University in St. Louis after an internship year in Virginia.
Reach Gokul at gokul.kumar@catar-act.org.
Chris Yim, Director of New York Division: Chris is a fourth year BS candidate at Columbia University. He volunteered in the summmer of 2007 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Hospital in Breman-Asikuma, Ghana, where he first became involved with CatarACT.
Reach Chris at chris.yim@catar-act.org.
Annabelle Liu, Director of Recruitment: Annabelle is a fourth year BA candidate in the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences at Northwestern University. She volunteered in the summmer of 2007 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Hospital in Breman-Asikuma, Ghana, where she first became involved with cataract. Annabelle also worked at Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra, Ghana.
Reach Annabelle at annabelle.liu@catar-act.org.
Tanay Dudhela, Director of Business Development: Tanay graduated from Northwestern University in 2006 with a degree in molecular biology and genetics. He brings over two years of consulting experience in the areas of health care planning, regulatory compliance, research, and operational improvement. He will be pursuing an MBA at the University of California at Berkeley in the Fall.
Reach Tanay at tanay.dudhela@catar-act.org.
Hauwei Lien, Director of Strategic Planning: Hauwei does strategic business development for high frequency proprietary trading firms. In addition to working with CatarACT, he is co-founder and organizer of Chicago Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP- Chicago). Hauwei graduated from Northwestern University in 2004 with a degree in political science and international studies.
Reach Hauwei at hauwei.lien@catar-act.org.
Hema Ramkumar, Director of Technology: Hema recently completed her third year of medical school at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She is currently pursuing a year of biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute scholar. She received a BA from Northwestern University in 2006. Hema brings extensive experience with high-volume, low-cost cataract surgical programs in India, including the Sankara Eye Foundation. She has participated in ophthalmology conferences, raised money for international eye health programs, and held leadership positions in organizations including Northwestern University's chapter of Unite for Sight. In addition, she brings prior web development and mobile health technology experience to her work with CatarACT International.
Reach Hema at hema.ramkumar@catar-act.org.
Questions, comments, thoughts, or interested in becoming a sponsor? We look forward to your input and will do our best to reply personally.
Contact us at action@catar-act.org.
