Uttara Bharath Kumar has over 30 years of experience in public health, social and behavioral science and communication. In her current role as Senior Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Advisor, with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) she leads their role in the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) project supporting reproductive health and rights for youth, women and vulnerable people in fragile and conflict settings in seven Eastern and Southern African countries.

She has spent 22 years in Africa and Asia supporting projects funded by USAID, the World Bank, WHO and the Bernard van Leer Foundation, working on a wide range of public health issues from HIV/AIDS and RNMCH to cancers and mental health. Some of the entertainment education initiatives she spearheaded have won awards – The Red Ribbon Award 2006, Silver Medal at the New York Film Festival 2007, Africommnet Award for Best Multimedia Campaign in Africa, 2009.

She is an experienced trainer and has led numerous training programs in more than 20 countries. She holds an Associate Faculty appointment at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has been instrumental in founding and mentoring three SBC-focused NGOs in India and Zambia. Ms. Bharath Kumar has a Masters degree in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a BA from Wellesley College.