About Us

Vinay is founder trustee of Prayas. He is a chief HIV physician and dermatologist at Prayas Amrita Clinic. Vinay is one of the first physicians who were a part of India’s response to the India’s emerging HIV epidemic way back in 1986. He has worked through the entire evolution of the epidemic from the days of complete despair to complete hope. He believes that cutting edge care has to be available to all irrespective of the socio-economic status. The clinic he leads has provided such a care to thousands of persons living with HIV. His firm belief that community empowerment is the key, he has worked with awareness building, capacity building of community based organizations, trainings, designing socio-behavioral research, and advocacy with the National HIV control program. He is also a senior dermatologist, practicing in Pune since 1985. He delivered 2019 IADVL oration on ‘HIV-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Tracking the Epidemic’

Education : M. D., F. A. M. S. (Vienna), D. N. B. A.A.H.I.V.S.

Sanjeevani’s work started even before she co-founded Prayas. Her work started in the early days of the HIV epidemic with conducting awareness programs for varied audiences. Engaging with the community, understanding the problem through their perspective and translating this into effective interventions has been at the core of her work. She has worked for increasing access to non-judgmental and compassionate HIV care to people especially pregnant women, children and adolescents through several interventions and capacity building of other individuals and organizations. She has extensively worked on designing information, ucation and communication material for different audiences using diverse mediums and has authored many booklets and publications.

Apart from this, she is associated with a Marathi monthly on thoughtful parenting, Palakniti for last 35 years. She is one of the founding members of a school called Aksharnandan, and member of the governing council of Pragat Shikshan Sanstha, Phaltan. She was awarded the prestigious Maha-Intrapreuneur Award 2013 in the NGO/Trusts/Semi-Government Category.

Education : Licentiate of court of examiners of Homoeopathy. 1980.

Epidemiology, statistics and HIV epidemiology course at Bloomberg college of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.2005

Ritu has been associated with Prayas health group since 2000. She has worked on issues related HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health. She is also interested in exploring public health angle of emerging issues such as air pollution and climate change. The focus of her research has been primarily on epidemiological and socio-behavioral aspects. Early in her career, she has worked on HIV/AIDS related interventions, trainings of health care providers and has contributed to development of various forms of educational material.

Education : MBBS, B J Medical College, Pune, 1996.

MPH, University of South Florida, USA, 2011

Shirish is associated with PHG since 2000. He has worked on a range of intervention and research projects. His research is focused on issues related to gender, sexuality, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, with a topical focus on strengthening evidence-informed discourse on these issues. He has been involved in academic teaching and conducting training workshops on qualitative research methods. He loves to be in nature and has a keen interest in wildlife photography. 

Education : PhD,  in Demography from University of Groningen, Netherlands in 2013,

M. Sc in Population Studies from University of Groningen, Netherlands in 2008,

M.A in Medical Anthropology from University of Pune, 2002,

BHMS from DSH Medical college, Pune in 2000.

Dr Smita Joshi leads the section on Preventive Oncology at Prayas. She leads some of the research studies on cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening. She is particularly interested in research studies among women living with HIV for cervical cancer prevention and has important publications in the field. She is recognised as a trainer for the IFCPC-IARC and ISCCP colposcopy courses. She is working with the IARC (WHO) at the Screening Group as a consultant for the development of the course entitled, ‘Comprehensive Learning Programme on Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Cervical Precancer’ for the WHO Academy. She has completed ICRETT and YY Fellowships of the Union for International Cancer Control, Geneva at IARC. She is the site PI of the Serum Institute of India’s multicentric Phase II/III clinical trial on SII’s quadrivalent HPV vaccine at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune. She is also associated with JCDC, Pune since 2008 where she is the site PI of the IARC (WHO)’s HPV vaccine study initiated in 2009.  

Education : MBBS, PGD-EPI, PhD

Ganesh is responsible for overall financial management, including budgeting and monitoring of project expenditures, financial reporting and auditing. 

Education: Bachelor of Commerce.

Trupti has been working in Prayas since 2006. She has been working on different research projects in the area of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive health. She loves Indian classical music, traveling, and bird watching.

Education : Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery, 2001

Post-graduate Diploma in Public Health Nutrition, 2014.

Vijaya has been associated with PRAYAS since 2002. She has worked on several interventions and research projects since her joining. Her major work is around the ‘Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV’. Currently, she has been involved in the intervention for, 'Maternal-infant health and adolescents and youth living with HIV'. Her core expertise is counselling, networking with the community, liaisoning with public and private sector organizations, and program implementation. She has been also active, ‘Community Advisory Board member’ (CAB) for B. J. Medical college Clinical Trial Unit and ‘Global Community Advisory Board’ (GCAB) for AIDS Clinical Trial Unit (ACTG) since 2012.

Her hobby is cycling, physical fitness, trekking, and stay tuned with nature.

Education : Master in Social Work (M.S.W.), Master of Arts in Sociology (M.A.), Diploma in ‘Public Health Management, in public health, Diploma in psychotherapy counseling

Kailas has been working at Prayas’ HIV care clinic since 2013. His responsibilities include diagnosis and management of patients, and clinical record keeping. He feels that while working as a clinician, putting emphasis on creating a positive experience for patients by welcoming and supporting them is of paramount importance. He is very particular about maintaining meticulous data which is not only important for day-to-day management of patients but also useful for evaluation and scientific research purposes.

Education : B.H.M.S. (2002-2007), M.B.A (2008-2010)  

Manisha has been working with Prayas as a counselor since 2014. She takes keen interest in studying and understanding people so that she is in a position to support them better. She loves to work with people.

Education : Master's in social work at Karve Institute.  Savitribai phule Pune University 2014.

Hema is working in Prayas since past 11 years as a receptionist. Her work responsibilities include working at the front desk of Prayas clinic to provide assistance to patients and visitors, attend to their queries, and help in dispensing of medicines.

Education : Completed Higher secondary school from Pune

Mohini is working in Prayas since last 9 years as a receptionist. Her work responsibilities include working at the front desk of Prayas clinic to provide assistance to patients and visitors, attend to their queries, and help in dispensing of medicines.

Siddhi is working as a Receptionist

Education : B.A.

Shruti’s responsibilities include all the laboratory related work as blood collection, store keeping, technical & administrative work, quality control & to maintain data. She has also worked on a project related to youth living with HIV.  Before joining Prayas she has worked at Niramay hospital, Chinchwad, D Y Patil medical college & research centre.

She loves Trekking, mountaineering, swimming, and cycling. She has recently started to learn flute. She interacts with adolescents to better understand their transition.

Education: B. Sc. (Zoology) Pune university (1994)

DMLT from BJMC affiliated to Pune university (1995-96)

Certificate courses of REBT & CAPEP (Jnana prabodhini)

Vaishali’s responsibilities include all the laboratory related work as blood collection, store keeping, technical & administrative work, quality control & to maintain data. She loves pencil sketching, reading books, listening music.

Education: B.Sc.(Chemistry) Pune university (1988)

DMLT from BJMC affiliated to Pune university  (1995-96), MSCIT 

Archana’s responsibilities include assisting in laboratory related work & blood collection.

 Education : She is completed Nursing in 2002.

Manjushree has been working at Prayas as a Finance and Administrative Officer since 2016. She likes to play hockey and loves to dance.

Education : Master Degree in Commerce (M.Com) from Pune University.

Geeta’s responsibilities includes all the administration work related to Prayas. She likes listening music and visiting new places.

 Education : Master Degree in Commerce from Pune University in 1997.

Rajendra has been working at Prayas as office assistant since 2021.

Education : He has done his matriculation.

Mufid Baig has been working as a Community Coordinator in the cervical and colorectal cancer screening projects. He is responsible for community awareness, arranging screening camps in the community, counselling and ensuring follow-up of screen positive individuals.

Education : B. Com, M. S. W.

Seema Kand has been working as a Senior Nurse at Prayas. She works for the cervical cancer screening projects. She has been trained in colposcopy at NDMCH, Barshi.  Her responsibilities include HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, colposcopy, cervical biopsy, ablative treatment and assisting in LLETZ.

Education : GNM (2000) from Sassoon General Hospital, Pune

Pratibha Adhav is  working on cervical cancer screening projects.

Education : ANM (2013)

Payal has been working at Prayas as a Clinic Coordinator. Payal’s job responsibilities include managing day to day healthcare program operations and providing assistance in multiple clinical studies for prevention of cervical cancer. She loves music and enjoys painting.

Education : Master Of Science in Biochemistry from Fergusson College Pune, 2014.

Sandeep Naik is working as an office, clinic as well as laboratory assistant at Prayas. His job responsibility includes helping with the office related work, disinfection, washing, autoclaving of instruments and preparation of the cervical cancer screening and colposcopy clinic.

Education : HSC

Sadashiv Patil has been working as a driver of the mobile screening unit since 2018.

Education : He has completed matriculation in 1982.

Maitreyee Kulkarni is a counselor, writer and has been associsted with Prayas Heath Group over the last ten years. she has been actively counseling a myriad of sexuality related concerns. She has graduated with Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She is passionate about writing and has often channelized this passion to advocate sexual and mental health on various platforms.

Shalmalee works as a counselor at Prayas for NESTS counseling space.  She practices a  person centered approach and is passionate about psychoeducation and trauma informed counseling. She likes to read and make art in her free time.

Education: M A in clinical psychology. PG certification in Counseling psychology

Aparna Joshi is an Accounts Administrator, She has been working with Prayas since 2007. Her interests are Indian Classical Music and traveling. Though she has not traveled much ,she plans to do so in the future.

Education: Post graduate in commerce from University of Pune.
She has completed Computer course and Japanese language course from C-Dac affiliated institute and University Pune respectively.

Prasant works in Accounts & Finance Department  from January 2011 as a Group Accountant PEG & PHG. His hobbies are playing and watching cricket, music, singing and cooking.

Consultant Oncopathologist Ex-Head of Department of Pathology Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Expert Member of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), Core committee for promotion of research (CCPR) of DMH and DNB Teacher and Post graduate guide.

Education: M.D (Path), DNB (Path)