Grantee: Namratha R. Kandula, MD, MPH

Namratha R. Kandula, MD, MPH

Organization:

• Northwestern University at Chicago

Current Title
Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine

Describe your scientific identity.
I am a physician scientist whose research is focused on how immigration, culture, and social factors shape health. My work with community partners on the systematic cultural adaptation and implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions in community settings led to a K24 Midcareer Mentorship award from NHLBI to train the next generation of researchers in community engaged implementation research to reduce health inequity.

What are your research interests?
I started the first dedicated multisectoral partnership in the US focused on understanding and preventing cardiovascular disease disparities among South Asian immigrants in 2010. This research partnership, the South Asian Health Initiative (SAHELI), is developing, implementing, and evaluating, community-centered prevention interventions to improve the cardiovascular health of South Asian adults and adolescents.

What is the significance of your current research project?
South Asian immigrant women and girls are not being reached by current approaches to physical activity promotion. We are testing the effectiveness and implementation of a multilevel physical activity intervention to promote physical activity among South Asian immigrant mothers and daughters. As part of this project, we are also building community capacity to understand and participate in research.

What motivated you to work in health behaviors research?
As a primary care physician, I spend a lot of time counseling people on how to prevent and manage chronic diseases. I want to meet people where they are at, which means adapting and developing prevention and treatment strategies to be more person and community centered.

Describe something that had a profound influence on your program of research or scientific interests (an "ah-ha!" moment).
When I started my research career, there were almost no data or research including Asian Americans, and they were labeled as a model minority that did not experience health disparities. I was determined to change this narrative because I saw that "What is measured is what is valued; what is undercounted tends to be counted out." I knew then that I would focus my career on building health and data equity in partnership with Asian American communities.

Selected training, awards, and honors:

• Mentor of the Year, Department of Medicine, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine (2023)
• 2023 Public Health Partners in Excellence Award, Village of Skokie, IL
• 2003 Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of Chicago

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