Dr Nalini Saligram, Founder & Chairperson, Arogya World

An Ashoka Fellow

Dr. Nalini Saligram is a passionate global health advocate with a hard science background and global communications experience. Deeply interested in making a meaningful contribution to global health she collaborates with like-minded people and partners to engage world leaders and individuals alike in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). She founded Arogya World in March 2010, with the purpose of preventing NCDs through healthy living in India. Today, under her guidance, Arogya World is working across several states in India through its 5 key programs and has reached more than 6 million people.

Recognized as an Ashoka Fellow for her invaluable work in creating a lifestyle movement for chronic disease prevention, Nalini is a seasoned leader, committed to fulfilling her vision of supporting and empowering everyone to lead healthier lives. As a tireless advocate for NCD prevention, she leverages public-private partnerships and global platforms to improve the world we live in; she was recognized as Philanthropy Leader 2021 by Indiaspora, featuring amongst other eminent leaders.

Her professional journey began in 1986, and since then, she has worked in science, global health, and public affairs in many countries around the world at companies like GSK, Merck, and Hill & Knowlton. Nalini holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She serves on the Dean’s Council at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She is a member of the Public Health Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

She is invited regularly at reputed global platforms and by publications to share her views on topics that matter the most to her – prevention of NCDs. “Eating right, exercise and no tobacco are 3 areas of focus to live a healthy life, ” says Nalini. 


Indian Media

  1. IDR – Prioritising prevention of non-communicable diseases
  2. India Today – Pivotal role of education in fostering awareness about preventive health
  3. Times of India –Promote healthy living to prevent pandemic-like devastation
  4. ETHealth – Echoing the theme of World Diabetes Day, if not now, when will we wake up to prevent this demographic disaster.
  5. Express Healthcare – Commemorating 100 years of insulin
  6. Business World –The Holy Grail Of NCDs Is Prevention: Nalini Saligram
  7. CSR Mandate – Urgent need for Policy Makers and Industry to collaborate and address severe malnutrition
  8. CSR Journal – Dr Nalini Saligram, CEO of Arogya World Talks about Improvement of Healthcare in India
  9. Times Of India –How Covid worsened the mental health crisis in India
  10. YourStory.com – This US-Based non-profit spread awareness about diabetes; impacted over 5 million people


Global Media

  1. The Lancet – Chronic diseases, the social justice issue of our time 
  2. The Medium – Reflecting on Arogya’s journey on my 60th birthday
  3. HuffPost – Urging world leaders at Davos to focus on chronic diseases
  4. CSIS – Building a health movement
  5. KFF – Real action needed on NCDs
  6. HuffPost – Non-Communicable Diseases: A Women’s Health, Rights and Empowerment Issue
  7. Foresight Global Health – Reflecting on women and NCDs in COVID times
  8. ThriveGlobal – What health means to me 


Accolades


Nalini's Leadership Tips

  • In order to keep people motivated, we aim to make our values clear, to ensure that all our actions are in alignment with those values, and to never lose sight of our purpose.
  • Organisations don’t have to BE BIG to THINK BIG
  • I believe age really is a matter of attitude. If you are enthusiastic, curious, optimistic, and have a spirit of adventure and a zest for life, you are young.
  • Global health has had many waves.
  • Years in the business world taught me that asking the questions, ‘What did we achieve?’ and ‘Did we deliver on our priorities?’ are paramount to respecting the bottom line and delivering tangible results.

Nalini in Action