Manvi Poddar: From a Product Design Student to a Public Health Practitioner
Manvi Poddar is an alumna of ATLAS ISDI, whose remarkable journey from a product design student to a public health practitioner is truly inspiring. Her dedication, passion and commitment to creating equitable and accessible health interventions serve as a beacon of hope for those aspiring to make a positive impact in the world of public health.
The Design Enthusiast
Manvi’s journey commenced at ATLAS ISDI as an Industrial and Product Design student. Throughout her academic tenure, she delved into various projects that allowed her to explore her passion for design in the realm of healthcare. This led her to design critical medical devices, including a low-cost colostomy bag, a user-friendly pregnancy test kit and an automated CPR device.
Design Meets Public Health
Manvi’s interest in designing medical devices led her to explore the intersection of design and public health. Her graduation capstone project at ATLAS ISDI was proof of this convergence. Focused on alleviating the burden on health visitors working in tuberculosis municipal care facilities in Mumbai, she embarked on redesigning the tuberculosis management web portal. Her efforts aimed to enhance the tracking of active cases, monitoring treatment progress and facilitating better communication between healthcare workers and patients.
Master’s Pathway and Beyond
After completing her education at ATLAS ISDI, Manvi worked with prestigious organisations like IndiaSpend and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – India Research Center. Her contributions to these institutions were instrumental, as she focused on improving digital literacy in India, documenting the nutritional intake of pregnant and lactating women in Odisha and evaluating dietary practices that promote nutrition-seeking behaviours among pregnant and lactating women.
Currently, Manvi is a Master’s Candidate at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) in Baltimore, USA. Here, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in International Health, with a focus on social and behavioral interventions. Her role as a Research Assistant at JHSPH involves working on projects related to micronutrient supplementation for women, tuberculosis and mental health and digital health interventions. Now, she strives to harness her skills as a human-centered designer and public health practitioner to design health interventions that promote health equity. Her research interests include qualitative and mixed-methods research, community-based participatory research, social and behavior change and formative research.
Manvi Poddar’s commitment to creating equitable and accessible health interventions underscores the transformative potential of individuals who combine their talents with a profound sense of purpose. As she continues to make significant strides in the field of public health, Manvi Poddar stands as an inspiration for all those who aspire to make a positive impact on society through their work.
