Draft:Dr. Apurvakumar Pandya

Dr. Apurvakumar Pandya's life story is one of resilience and determination. Apurva’s journey to become a psychologist and socio-behavioural scientist has been fraught with obstacles. He was the first from the village and from his community to earn PhD.

Brought up in a tribal village at Paria village in Killa Pardi taluka, Apurva is now a faculty member at India’s first public health university, Indian Institute of Public Health. Established jointly by Government of India and Public Health Foundation of India . IIPHG is known for its strong academic programs, impactful research, effective capacity building and advocacy . Its parent body PHFI ranked as Top Second public health institute in the World published by the International Journal of Public Health

Born into a modest Brahmin family in a tribal district of South Gujarat, Valsad. He belongs to a village called Paria village. Both tradition and a strong work ethic shaped his early years. His father, a dedicated Ayurvedic Medical Officer, served for 21 years with a fixed honorarium of Rs. 250, later receiving recognition as a Class 3 Medical Officer before retirement. While his mother nurtured the home front, Dr. Pandya's younger brother now carries on the family's academic legacy as a Research Officer at Shree Somnath Sanskrit University, Veraval. His brother did his doctorate in Sanskrit. Dr. Pandya's own educational journey began in Paria village, where he received his primary, secondary, and higher education in Gujarati medium.

Early life

His pursuit of higher studies took him 10 kilometers daily by bicycle to Pardi High School. Along with education, he learned Hindu rituals and started performing Hindu rituals as a Gaur Maharaj since he was in 7th standard. The income earned from these rituals helped support his higher education at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He later discontinued performing rituals due to professional commitments.

Professional profile

Over 17 years of experience in social sector research and public health. He is the author of numerous research publications in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, International Journal of Transgender Health) on topics like mental health, public health interventions, and marginalized populations. Dr. Pandya's work demonstrates a strong focus on understanding the social and psychological factors influencing health behaviors, particularly among vulnerable populations. He has a keen interest in leveraging technology for public health interventions and exploring the impact of technology on health outcomes. His expertise is recognized through invitations to serve as a reviewer for prestigious institutions like the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UK, and academic journals like the Journal of Public Health (Oxford University Press), the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care (Cambridge University Press), and the British Medical Journal.

Education

• Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology): Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat (2005)
• Ph.D. (Human Development and Family Studies): Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat (2015)

Current Appointment

Faculty Member, Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG)

Previous Appointment

Director and Associate Professor, Parul Institute of Public Health, Parul University, Vadodara (served prior to joining IIPHG)

Expertise

• Health promotion
• Behaviour change communication
• Public Health
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Health Psychology
• Health Technology Assessment

Research Interests

• Psycho-socio-cultural determinants of health behaviors
• Design and evaluation of health promotion and behavior change communication interventions
• Role of rituals on health behaviour
• Public mental health

Editorial roles

• Academic Editor, PLOS One
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Public Health
• Associate Editor, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
• Editorial Advisory Board, Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality and Culture

Achievements

• Young Researcher’s Award, 2022, Institute of Scholars, Bangalore
• Dedicated Teacher’s Award, 2021, Parul University, Vadodara
• Best Innovative Team Contributor of the Year Award 2015, ChildFund India
• USIEF Travel Scholarship, 2014
• Best Paper Award from 30th Biennial Conference of Home Science Association of India, Dec 2013
• Early Career Scholar Award, 2012
• University Grants Commission Research Fellowship (UGC RFSMS-DSR) - Junior Research Fellow (2 years) and Senior Research Fellow (3 years), 2007-2012
• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship, 2009 for academic year 2010-11 at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University of New York City
• Travel Award from American Psychological Association for participation in APA convention in Washington, USA, 2010.
• Many Faces of Counselling Psychology Award, 2008
• Scholarship (Complimentary Registration), 3rd International Congress on Women's Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia, Mar, 2008
• Scholarship, 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive & Sexual Health and Rights, Hyderabad, India, October, 2007
• Lakshya Trust Scholarship to attend Strength Based Practice, 2006
• RCSHA Scholarship for participating in International Certificate Course in HIV/AIDS Counselling and Psychosocial Support from TISS, Mumbai, 2005

Insights

Apurva's perseverance and dedication to education despite financial constraints are inspiring. His background in a Brahmin family and early exposure to Hindu rituals may have influenced his research interests in social and cultural determinants of health. His ability to balance academic pursuits with work experience as a Gaur Maharaj demonstrates his work ethic and resourcefulness.