Shri. K Narayan:
K. Narayan is the Honorary Chairman of Mahavir International Delhi, overseeing three charitable hospitals focused on eye and healthcare for the underprivileged. Formerly Managing Director of NBCFDC, he also held additional roles at NSFDC and NSKFDC. A Mechanical Engineer by training, he transitioned to social service, leading initiatives for slum children’s education and youth rehabilitation. Mr. Narayan is the co-founder of Aarogya HEAL Foundation. Qualifying for Masters’s in Business Administration and Counselling Psychology, he is currently a volunteer at the Sanjivini Society for Mental Health and an author, with interests in ancient Indian texts, distance running, trekking, and badminton.
- Dr. Rajesh Kumar:
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Executive Director of ISSUP India, SPYM, and co-founder of Aarogya HEAL Foundation, has dedicated 38 years to drug demand reduction, prevention, and recovery support. He is a member of various significant committees, including those of the Government of India, the State Government, and the United Nations. SPYM holds special consultative status with the UN’s ECOSOC. Dr. Kumar has received three prestigious awards from the President of India in 1989, 2014, and 2016 for SPYM’s exceptional contributions to uplifting marginalized communities.
- Prof Dr.Nimesh G Desai:
Prof Dr. Nimesh G Desai is a renowned and trusted psychiatrist and public health professional, with four decades of experience in mental health and specifically in Substance Use Disorders (SUD) treatment & prevention. He has been the faculty of some of the premiere health institutions in the public sector of India, with equally active involvement in the private and NGO/ Voluntary sector. He also has extensive experience with the SUD services & programs in other countries, including the Humphrey Fulbright Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, where he obtained his qualification in public health viz. MPH. He is associated with the Aarogya HEAL Foundation as a Psychiatrist, committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health support, ensuring every patient receives personalized care tailored to their unique needs. He also serves as a prime member in many important policy groups related to mental health and SUD and keen to learn from innovations and expand his ground-level practices.
- Dr. Hitesh Sharma
Dr. Hitesh Sharma is a psychiatrist with over 15 years of experience in private practice and affiliations with several esteemed hospitals. He has comprehensive expertise across all areas of psychiatry. Since 2011, he has served as the consultant psychiatrist of the drug treatment and rehabilitation center, Chandigarh managed by SPYM, where he supervises medical staff and actively participates in patient treatment. He is a psychiatrist associated with the Aarogya HEAL Foundation, committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health support. Additionally, he advises the center’s management and engages in various continuing medical education programs to stay updated on advancements in the field. He is also a member of several psychiatric societies.
- Dr. Debojyoti Sarkar:
Dr. Debojyoti Sarkar, (MBBS, DNB, FIAGES, FALS) is a practicing surgeon, known for his ethical standards of practice and expertise in handling complicated, recurrent, high risk and elderly patients. He served in ISIC till 2021 as a Consultant Surgeon and is practicing in south Delhi and Gurgaon. He is associated with Aarogya HEAL Foundation as the Senior Consultant, known for his clinical judgments in drug de-addiction, managing withdrawal, treatment and rehabilitation, empathetic attitude towards patients, and ability to successfully conduct major abdominal surgeries and handle complicated situations.He has a reputation for treating and operating upon a maximum number of paraplegic and quadriplegic patients for the past ten years. He is most trusted in Emergency and Trauma surgery, critical care, Breast and Abdominal cancer surgery, Proctology, Bedsore management & Gastrointestinal Surgery.
- Ms. Vaishnavi Arora
Vaishnavi Arora is a dedicated counseling and de-addiction psychologist with a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at Aarogya HEAL Foundation, passionately committed to helping individuals transform their. Her extensive education and experience have equipped her with a deep understanding of psychological principles and therapeutic practices, enabling her to offer compassionate, effective support on your journey to recovery. In her practice, Ms. Vaishnavi employs a client-centered and eclectic approach, utilizing a variety of evidence-based assessments and techniques. This flexibility allows her to tailor the methods to your unique needs, ensuring you receive the personalized care essential for well-being and growth. She believes that every individual has the potential to overcome challenges like addiction and achieve a fulfilling life through this transformative process, fostering resilience and self-discovery along the way.
- Ms. Kashish Bansal:
Kashish Bansal is an experienced psychologist specializing in de-addiction and mental health at Aarogya HEAL Foundation. She provides compassionate, evidence-based treatment, integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques to help individuals overcome addiction and achieve overall mental well-being. Ms. Kashish is committed to empowering her clients, addressing underlying psychological factors, and supporting them on their recovery journey. Her dedication to reducing stigma and advocating for accessible mental health care makes her a trusted professional.
- Mr. Bilal Ahmad Naqati:
Bilal Ahmad Naqati is a distinguished expert in program development and strategic planning, currently serving as a Co-investigator and Trainer for INEP Plus. He holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce from Osmania University, a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Garhwal, and a research fellowship in HIV and AIDS from New York University, along with a certificate in Child Treatment Curriculum from the Colombo Plan. His notable career includes roles such as Program Director at SPYM and Aarogya HEAL Foundation; National Consultant for NACO and UNICEF. Mr. Naqati has led major initiatives like the Red Ribbon Express project on HIV prevention and the nationwide implementation of life skills education, training one million teachers. As a co-investigator for the SUN CHILD intervention study, he manages project operations and staff training. He also directed the 2017 National Survey on Substance Use in India, assessing substance use patterns and service availability.
- Mr. Manish Kumar:
Manish Kumar, an accomplished Co-investigator and Trainer for INEP Plus, has a diverse educational background including a B. Com and M.A. from Osmania University, a Certificate from the International Labour Organisation, and an MBA from the Institute of Management Technology. With extensive experience in program management, he has led significant research projects such as the “Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India,” in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and AIIMS. Mr. Kumar also has contributed to strategic planning and harm reduction initiatives through his roles at NACO, SPYM, and various international agencies. His recent work involves overseeing comprehensive intervention studies for drug-using populations, developing harm reduction strategies, and managing data collection for evidence-based planning.
