Public Health and Pediatric Policy Leader
Vinod K. Paul has established himself as a distinguished pediatrician, public health expert, and policy maker, currently serving as a full-time Member of NITI Aayog where he leads the Health and Nutrition verticals. His academic career spans over three decades at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he served as Head of the Department of Pediatrics and specialized in neonatology. His contributions to public health in India include pivotal roles in formulating the POSHAN Abhiyaan and Ayushman Bharat initiative, while his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic saw him chairing the National Task Force and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration. His international influence extends through positions such as co-chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health board and membership in the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health. His research excellence is evidenced by over 350 publications and editorship of 'Ghai Essential Pediatrics,' while his contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centenary Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research, the Ihsan Dogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize from WHO, and fellowships in all three national science academies of India. Born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Paul has dedicated his career to improving maternal and child health outcomes, developing health policies, and strengthening medical education in India