Sarla Chand, PhD, MS, MSc

Dr. Sarla Chand is a well-recognized advocate for global health and a champion for the faith-based organizations in the development world. With more than 35 years of US and international leadership experience, especially in empowering marginalized and resource-poor communities to improve health and well-being of women and children. Dr. Chand has supported people, programs and projects in the areas of health and education on every continent and brings not only public health experience buts also decades of experience working the faith based organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

While providing leadership to health system strengthening and disease control programs – HIV/AIDs, Malaria and especially Neglected Tropical Diseases – Dr. Chand has never lost sight of the importance of mobilizing communities to take charge of their own well-being through prevention and community based treatment interventions.

Currently Dr. Chand serves as a Sr. Advisor to the CEO/President of IMA World Health, an ecumenical faith-based international NGO. She is also the founding partner of a newly launched Partnership for Faith and Development.

Previously, Dr. Chand served as Vice President of International Programs at IMA World Health, where she oversaw the program management and new business development divisions. During that tenure, she led a turn-around of projects, especially in Tanzania and South Sudan leading IMA to growth and stability.

Before joining IMA, Dr. Chand served as Professor/Director of the newly established graduate program in human services management as well as Director of the Molly Bish Center for the Prevention of Violence against Children and Elderly at a Catholic College in Massachusetts. Working closely with the criminal justice professionals, community leaders and students Dr. Chand gained new insights into and helped develop collaborative efforts to address the violence related issues plaguing local communities.

Prior to that Dr. Chand provided leadership to international health programs of the United Methodist Church and placed special emphasis on community-ownership and support for health and related programs. During the 25 years at the General board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, Dr. Chand provided leadership to research and planning for Congregational and Community Development, Education and Health institutions of UMC and partners, Substance Abuse and Related Violence programs both in the US and internationally, especially Eastern Europe and the international health programs. In addition to developing program related communication resources, Dr. Chand co-authored the textbook “Global Health and Christian Response-ability” and led several    Regional and Conference Schools of Mission for the United Methodist Women. For the USAID funded ACCESS project she co-authored the publication “Faith-Based Models for Improving Maternal and Newborn Health”, MNCH Sermon Guide for Christian leaders; MNCH Khutbah Guide for Muslim leaders. Under her leadership, IMA has developed and produced similar sermon guided on Malaria, WASH, Family Planning and Gender Based Violence.

Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Dr. Chand received her MSc from Delhi University. After teaching health and nutrition for five years, she enrolled at Cornell University and received her MS in Health Sciences and PhD in Research & Evaluation for Human Services.