Meet Our Team

Dr. Sandesh Patil is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, he graduated from BJGMC. Dr. Pail also holds a master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. He has more than 25 years of clinical and research experience in the area of HIV/AIDS. He has published several manuscripts in National and International journals.

Dr. Mallika Alexander a gynaecologist by training from CMC Vellore. She has over 25 years of experience in clinical, public health and behavioural research among women affected with HIV or TB. She has organized and supervised clinical skills training in Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), a MoHFW programme, for district training teams of Maharashtra, Goa and Dadra Nagar Haveli for Department of Family Health and Welfare, Government of Maharashtra. She has successfully led clinical and social science research, and managed DAIDS, NIH funded HPTN, MTN and ACTG clinical trials. She has expertise in conducting large field-based survey and interventional research among young people, youth sexuality and parent child communication on sexual and reproductive health in rural and urban areas. She has immense understanding of socio-cultural influences on women’s vulnerabilities is a dynamic researcher on issues related to women’s health.  Dr. Alexander has co-authored several National and International peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Neetal Nevrekar is an obstetrician and gynecologist by training with over twenty years of experience in patient care and clinical research. She has done her graduation and post-graduation from the Grant Medical College and Sir J.J Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India. Since 2010, she is a clinical coordinator at the National Institute of Health, United States-funded BJ Government Medical College-Johns Hopkins India, Clinical Research Site in Pune, India. She has extensive teaching experience in Mumbai and Pune. She has expertise in clinical research and her experience includes but not limited to successful conduct of various HIV and TB clinical trials. Her expertise includes health of women living with HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities like TB, anemia, stigma and depression. Her research has helped the government to adopt and implement new policies in HIV and TB National programs. She has successfully completed the USAID sponsored PEER Women’s Mentorship Program. She represents Women’s Health Inter-network Scientific Committee (WHISC) at NIH funded International IMPAACT-ACTG Network. He has several National and International publications to her credit.

Ms. Savita Kanade is an anthropologist by training. She has more than 30 years of experience in behavioural research in sexual and reproductive health, maternal mortality, gender based domestic violence and safe abortion practices. Ms. Kanade is currently working for B.J. Government Medical Collage-Johns Hopkins India Clinical Trial Unit as Community and Outreach Coordinator. She is extremely well connected with the community stake holders and is key link between the community and public health researchers in prioritizing their research agenda. She is a member of KEM Hospital Research Centre Ethics Committee as Social Scientist.

Shrikant Kothalkar is a retired senior banking professional from State Bank of India, having vast experience in various fields- banking, administration, personnel management and human resources. He has also served as Executive Secretary of a large Public Trust in Pune, as Principal Business Consultant in a Financial Risk & Regulatory compliance MNC IT Company, as Senior Consultant (HR & Admin) with Agri Finance Corporation of India, Mumbai and as Mentor and Financial Advisor to beneficiaries of a Trust which is supported by Confederation of Indian Industries engaged in working for the development of underprivileged youths. Shri Kothalkar is associated with Lakshya Trust since January 2023. He is based in Pune.