Dr. Upasona Ghosh

A Brief Biography: I am a public health anthropologist working in the intersection between climate change, public health and health system. My doctoral research was on social determinant of child health in the Indian Sundarbans- a globally known climate change hotspot as a part of health systems research to improve access, affordable and quality health services for the marginalized. During my PhD, climate change impacts emerged as the most crucial determinants to children’s health in the Sundarbans by mediating all other determinants like parents’ livelihood, shelter, nutrition, education and so on.

Post PhD, my work focuses on impacts of climate change on community health and health care delivery system. I aimed to understand social vulnerabilities of the communities experiencing climate change and also throws light on the Planetary health dynamics impacting transformational changes towards climate resilient health system. Currently, I am building up community based practical knowledge towards a sustainable pathway of change in health policy process for the vulnerable and disadvantageous populations. My work also focuses on building climate resilient and low carbon health system in Indian context and climate adaptation-mitigation co-benefit.

As a faculty at IIPH, Bhubaneswar, I am involved in various academic and research activities, which includes teaching environmental health and social and behavioural sciences in the public health management diploma (PGDPHM) and Masters of Public Health (MPH). I am convening the MPH course in IIPHB as well as an e-learning course on Climate and Health in collaboration of Villanova University. I am closely working with Centre for Environmental Health as a technical expert and also the co-lead from Asia in Climate Resilient and Sustainable Health System Thematic Working Group of Health System Global.