Our Journey
RAHI-SATHI began in 2010 as a student-led collaboration between UMass Chan Medical School in the United States and Bhaikaka University in Gujarat, India.Bhaikaka University is part of Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM), a nonprofit organization that oversees both education and health care in the region. The collaboration began with a friendly cricket match, which sparked the initial connection among the founders. The first collaborative project focused on a community-based health needs assessment. The assessment helped identify major health concerns in rural areas, such as limited care for pregnant women and newborns, high rates of injuries, and undiagnosed chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. These findings laid the foundation for a long-term partnership focused on research, education, and public health programs in rural communities.
The collaboration was co-founded by Dr. Nisha Fahey, Dr. Apurv Soni, Dr. Jeroan Allison, and Dr. Somashekhar Nimbalkar with the goal of creating a global health partnership that is equal, long-term, and grounded in the needs of the community.
Founders of RAHI-SATHI
Dr. Jeroan Allison, MD MS
Dr. Allison is a physician, epidemiologist, and Chair of the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. His research focuses on developing health equity interventions, including narrative storytelling to address disparities in healthcare. Over the past 15 years, he has secured continuous funding from national organizations such as the NIH, AHRQ, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, Dr. Allison brings expertise in public health research, mentorship, and advancing global efforts to create more equitable healthcare systems.
Dr. Nisha Fahey, DO, ScM
Dr. Fahey is a physician and public health researcher with a focus on maternal and child health. She has led community-based research on improving outcomes for mothers and newborns, including work on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)—a method that uses skin-to-skin contact to support newborn development. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, Dr. Fahey has helped build training programs for students and young professionals, creating space for cross-cultural learning and meaningful fieldwork.
Dr. Somashekhar Nimbalkar, MD
Dr. Nimbalkar is a pediatrician and academic leader at Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM) in Gujarat, India. He has led several important research projects, including a long-term neonatal cohort study and the development of a hospital-based trauma registry. Dr. Nimbalkar is committed to building local research capacity, mentoring young clinicians, and ensuring that health interventions are informed by the needs of rural communities. His leadership has been central to the growth and success of the RAHI-SATHI partnership.
Dr. Apurv Soni, MD, PhD
Dr. Soni is a physician-scientist at UMass Chan Medical School, with expertise in digital health and health systems research. He led the SMART-India project, which used mobile ECG devices to screen for atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat) in rural communities. His work focuses on using data and technology to improve healthcare delivery, especially in underserved settings. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, he has played a key role in shaping its long-term vision and strategy.