(May 1, 2023) It takes a strong woman to raise a strong woman and as Dr Kavitha Das was raised by three of them, she understands what it takes to smash the glass ceiling. Dr. Kavitha P. Das has dedicated 15 years to disrupting the healthcare system and promoting interdisciplinary research for equitable access to care. Based in New York City, the dentist, researcher, academic, and healthcare innovator has collaborated with renowned institutions and leads a health equity-focused organization. Currently the Chair for Health Policy and Advocacy in New York City and health policy statements for the New York State Public Health Association, Dr. Das focuses on preventing chronic diseases in diverse urban communities and engages with various stakeholders to create impactful action plans. She’s also a seasoned academic, who has worked in infectious and chronic disease mitigation and research at NYU, Columbia University, Yale University and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Kavitha was born and raised in Bengaluru, in a large family of hard-working, kind and loving people, she recalls. Her aunt Slevie Das, who partly raised her, went to the US in the 1950s, where she completed her PhD before returning to India and going on to become the first and the only Vice Chancellor of Mysore University. Her father, Dr Parangusa Das, was a plastic surgeon, specialising in trauma and burn cases. She would accompany him to work as a child, and the hospital became a familiar place to her. In those days, she travelled extensively – globetrotting with her mother, Thulasi and her father, as well as locally with her aunt, who was the Director of Collegiate Education for all higher education institutions in Karnataka.”
Embarking on a Journey to the US
“I thought hospitals were normal places to be as I used to visit my father often at his place of work,” Kavitha tells Global Indian. She was inspired by her father and her aunt, and wanted to emulate them. “I chose dentistry as I thought it had a better work-life balance even though my Dad tried his best to convince me to go to medical school,” she adds.
In 2001, Kavitha embarked on her journey to the US to further her education, remarking, “I went to the USA to study Social and Behavioural Sciences and International Health, a degree in public health after I graduated from dental college in Bangalore.” She then trained as a prosthodontist at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
Kavitha’s passion for academia and public health saw her complete a master’s degree in Social and Behavioural Sciences and International Health from Boston University, as well as certifications in health management. She boasts an impressive academic background, having worked in infectious and chronic disease mitigation and research at prestigious institutions such as NYU, Columbia University, Yale University, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
She has undertaken research projects relating to health disparities, access to care, diabetes, heart disease, oral health, and oral cancer in the NYC populations. Kavitha has also played a significant role in steering health policy and management for New York City at the state public health associations.
Health Policy and Community Work
Right now, I have two very distinct roles, one is as a senior/Executive Director for research and the second is as the chair for health policy and advocacy in New York City and health policy statements for New York State for the New York State Public Health Association,” Kavitha explains. In addition to her leadership roles, she also teaches postdoctoral dental residents, stating, “My lectures are used to teach in some local institutions.”
Kavitha’s dedication and passion for her work led to her receiving the National Health Equity Award by DentaQuest in 2022, a testament to her commitment to championing equitable access to oral care and optimal overall health.
“I was taught to cater to the needs of disenfranchised populations from childhood,” Kavitha says, reflecting on her upbringing. She recalls her early exposure to poverty and how it deeply impacted her, stating, “The slums that lined the streets of the international airport in Bombay… I vowed to give back as much as I could.”
Driven by her family’s example, Kavitha co-founded Purpose Med Solutions in 2021, a health equity-focused community-based organisation aiming to improve community well-being through both social and commercial determinants of health. “One of my dreams definitely came true. I am working with populations worst hit by the pandemic and it brings me joy to be able to adopt a comprehensive approach to wellness,” she says.
Empowering Women and Giving Back
Kavitha’s goals centre around changing the inevitability of chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, oral diseases, and oral cancer) for children and families. She engages in community work and public policy, collaborating with school and community leaders to create action plans that build trust and engagement within local communities. “I love that dentists and doctors can reduce pain and help in healing diseases but what I dislike is that we have not done a good job of prevention education,” she says.
Kavitha also takes part in initiatives for women, having helped put together the UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon Women’s Empowerment Award. “I know a few key players in the UN, and they supported my vision to set up this award,” she says. She enjoys writing, expressing that it brings her peace, and is a deputy editor for a peer-reviewed national medical journal in the USA. Kavitha also devotes time to planning fun fundraisers for various organisations she supports, including fashion shows, salsa dancing classes, and art shows. She has also planned events featuring the work of Indian designer Masaba Gupta, raising funds for initiatives like Lend A Hand India.
Outside her professional and philanthropic pursuits, Kavitha finds solace in her personal interests. “I am also a deputy editor to a peer-reviewed national medical journal in the USA, and writing brings me peace,” she shares. She attributes much of her success to her mentors and guides, acknowledging, “I have worked with incredible people, and everyone has a good lesson to teach.”
Kavitha’s story is one of persistence, perseverance, and faith. She firmly believes in the power of intention, stating, “I am more spiritual than religious, but I strongly believe that if you want to make an impact, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Her journey demonstrates how an unwavering commitment to her values, coupled with a passion for public health and giving back to society, has helped impact communities both in the US and beyond.
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