Amruta Bavadekar is the Director of the Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT), India’s leading institution at the forefront of research and advocacy on health and human rights. With over 12 years of experience in public health research, training, and health systems strengthening, she has been instrumental in integrating gender perspectives into medical education and practice. She has worked closely with medical colleges, health universities, and regulatory councils to institutionalize gender-sensitive teaching and to build the capacity of future healthcare providers to respond to gender-based violence and discrimination.
As Director, Amruta Bavadekar envisions CEHAT as a catalyst for transforming health systems to be more equitable, accountable, and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities. She is committed to expanding CEHAT’s work on gender, health equity, and evidence-based advocacy to shape policies that advance the right to health for all.
Dr. Dhananjay Kakade has 20 years of professional experience at the global and national levels in the development sector. He has worked as a trainer, researcher, campaigner, organiser, manager, and grant-maker, with a focus on social accountability, governance, and human rights. Dr. Dhananjay has collaborated with civil society organisations and funding agencies to safeguard human rights and promote people’s participation in health decision-making.
From 2004 to 2012, he was associated with SATHI-CEHAT in Pune as a Senior Programme Officer and Associate Coordinator, and from 2013 to 2014, he worked with Oxfam India as a Health Coordinator. He also served as the Executive Director of the National Centre for Advocacy Studies in India from 2014 to 2015. From 2015 to 2018, he was engaged in global public health and rights-based programming, working with international organisations to advance equitable health systems.