Kajal Patel (Research Assistant)

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

I am a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Human Nutrition. I am excited to be working with such an incredible team focused on creating positive impacts for the South Asian Community. I am advocate for improving health by implementing behavioral changes, which has lead me to this study. My goal is help impact the community through meaningful research as well as gain experience in my gap year before medical school to help me better understand community health. In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, and cooking healthy dishes.

Subia Javed, BSc (Family Liaison/Community Health Specialist)

 I work as a family liaison at Skokie School district 69. I help families not only in interpretation and translation (Urdu, Hindi and Gujrati) but also work as a bridge between parents, school and community. I support families in an area needed and also engage them in our community. Additionally, I work as a community health specialist at Northwestern University in South asian research studies. The main part of my work is to recruit and provide health education which I really enjoy. In my free time, I like to enjoy the outdoors, hang out with friends and travel. 

Namratha R. Kandula, MD, MPH (Principal Investigator)

I am a primary care physician who works with community partners to improve health in immigrant and minority communities. My research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is on understanding and reduce cardiovascular disease disparities in South Asian immigrants. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, bicycling, and reading fiction.

Kathy Maczka (Research Administrator)

I am a research administrator in the Center for Community Health, IPHAM who helps manage the study funds. I work closely with the subcontractor sites and facilitate the timely payment of the invoices.

Steve Pearson (Research Administrator)

I am a research administrator who helps manage the study funds and work closely with the subcontractor sites and facilitate the timely payment of the invoices.  In my spare time, I enjoy training for and running marathons.

Michael Charley, Director Health and Human Services, (Site Principal Investigator)

Michael Charley is the Director of Health and Human Services at the Skokie Health and Human Services Department. He is the Skokie site’s Principal Investigator.

Emily Anderson, MA (Research Project Manager)

Emily holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and is a Research Project Manager in the Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Community Health at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on how people make decisions about engaging in health-related behaviors and ways to improve health and healthcare through the efficient coordination of health promotion and disease prevention activities across healthcare and community settings. Her additional interests include advancing health equity, eliminating health disparities, and healthcare quality improvement.

Ayesha Akhtar, MPH (SAB Co-Chair, Director of Education with Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago)

Ayesha Akhtar is the current Director of Education, after having been an Education Coordinator with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago since 2011. Ayesha is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where she earned a B.B.A. in accounting, and in 2010 she earned her M.P.H. from the University of Illinois-Chicago, focusing on culturally sensitive approaches to health care. She has over 18 years of experience in public health as an educator in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, and communities at large. She is passionate about improving health literacy and outcomes in communities through education and example in order to help people live empowered and informed lives.

Swapna Dave MPH, MBBS (SAB Co-Chair, Senior Scientific Manager, CorEvitas, LLC)

I am a Public Health professional with extensive experience working on community-based research, and manage multiple NIH funded research projects focused on cardiovascular health in the South Asian community. I am passionate about Public Health and serve on the Skokie Board of Health. Working on the SAHELI study is personally as well as professionally fulfilling since I can help improve the health of my community. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and learning music with my daughter.

Fatima Saifi, MPH (Epidemiologist, Chicago Department of Public Health)

I am currently an Epidemiologist at the Chicago Department of Public Health. I previously worked at Northwestern University to pursue my interest in research and public health. I am passionate about reducing health disparities within the South Asian community and my goal is to make a positive impact through outreach and health education. In my free time, I enjoy watching health documentaries, spending time with my family and friends, and coaching lacrosse.

Nirav Shah, MD (Site Principal Investigator)

I am an infectious disease physician involved in numerous quality improvement and research projects at NorthShore University HealthSystem. My research focus is in predictive analytics and clinical informatics and I have a strong interest in population health. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my two boys, reading, listening to music and traveling.

Hema Naik (Research Project Coordinator)

I am a Research Project Coordinator at Northwestern University. I completed my Masters in Public Health from Benedictine University. My passion to work for Public health was driven from my past experience of working in medicine. It gives me immense satisfaction to work for the South Asian community as they are very often underrepresented in the field of research. In my free time, I like to read, listen to music and spend time with my family.

Dushyant Sharma (Business Consultant, DAS Financial)

I am a research scientist who is interested in the relationship between epi-genetics and healthy aging. As a member of the SAHELI-SAB, I hope to gain more insight into this and associated positive health outcomes. I enjoy reading, listening to and playing devotional music.

Jagruti Rawal (Information Specialist, NorthShore University Health System)

I work at NorthShore University Health System PeriOp Business services in a non-clinical position, helping the patients and the community. Being a South Asian and a MASALA study participant, I understand the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Proper diet and exercise has helped me lower my blood glucose level. Being a part of the SAHELI study team, I can share my personal experiences and achieve my goal of helping the community.

Muhammad Paracha, MD, MPH (Executive Director, Asian Human Services Family Health Center)

I am an Executive Director of a Federally Qualified Health Center, an advocate and a strong supporter of healthcare equity for the Asian and immigrant population in the US. I enjoy reading, going to the gym, watching cricket and spending time with my children.