If you have an analytical degree and understanding, you can do well in the public health sector…

Dr. Nidhi Pundir- Public Health and Social Development Professional

QUICK INTRO

Birthplace: Rajasthan.

Education: Bachelor of Science from University of Rajasthan, Masters in Hospital and Health Management from IISMR, M.Phil from BITS Pilani, PhD in Public Health Management from IISMR.

Profession: Senior Vice President at AVCL Foundation, a well-known professional in the field of CSR, Public Health and Social Development.

 

Childhood, education, and life experiences play a significant role in each individual’s professional journey. Dr. Nidhi Pundir, who has worked for years in the sensitive field of public health and social development, has distinguished herself by combining education, research, and on-the-ground experience. In this exclusive interview, she opened up about her early life, education, career challenges, and important lessons for today’s youth:

How did you envision your future during your school days? Did you ever imagine that your future would lead you to public health and the social sector?

As a child, I lived mostly with my parents. If they were going to school, I would accompany them to school, and my father to his office. When my mother prepared the children’s results, we would help her. Back then, we didn’t have Excel sheets, so we would fold large chart papers together and spread them out on the floor, 10 at a time. Then, we would draw lines on them to make it easier for my mother. When my father visited other schools for inspection, the Joint Secretary of Education came to see how their work was going. This was quite moving for me.

It was a unique experience that inspired me to pursue a career that allows me to have some authoritative power to change things and do meaningful work. Civil service is a stream for that, so I took the RAS exam and scored quite well. At the same time, MAT was also starting, which led me to IHMR after graduation.

Once there, I realized it was a unique field, a departure from the traditional path. It offered subjects like management and public health. As a life sciences student, I was inclined toward public health.

When I arrived at IHMR, I found direction. I felt it was a good path to work in the public health sector. Initially, I wasn’t even aware that such a career existed, but I was determined to pursue work that would be useful to society.

You chose subjects like science and then health management. You reached the level of specialization in classical dance, but didn’t choose it as a career. What was the thinking behind these decisions? What did ‘success’ mean to you then?

I took every exam and every practice very seriously. I studied science, but I never considered it a career. It was my hobby. I still practice regularly. I was also very active in painting. But science was closest to my heart.

After entering public health, I found a systematic approach to understanding and doing my work. After that, I went to BITS Pilani to pursue my MPhil.

At IIHMR we got to study mostly hospital management and when I joined NGO

After working in the sector, I realized that public health is a specialized field and deserves to be studied. I believe that when you study deeply and understand the field of your choice, you gain a unique sense of self-satisfaction.

I did a lot of work, but I felt I wanted to work in public health on a larger scale. Then I worked at Save the Children, where I started a chapter on child rights. I had never studied human rights before, but I understood the framework and worked on it for many years. After that, I was the Global Advisor on Violence Against Children at Plan International for many years. I took a great interest in that area as well. But even there, I was working mostly on the funding part, and my role was that of a technical advisor.

These were both subjects that no university offers. We received specialized training in these areas on the job. During my time in the international development space, I traveled to over 40 countries and worked with various nationalities and communities.

What do you think today when you look back, did your education determine your direction from the beginning or did the path get shaped gradually?

I always say that studies will never tell you what you ultimately want to become, education itself is a journey of discovery and learning, in which you discover yourself and understand your potential.

So that’s why I say that whatever degree you do, do it to learn.

The source of income doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your degree. Your learning opens up many fields. On-the-job training is a different learning experience, as you travel and meet people.

You apply your common sense every day. But sense development, or character building, happens when you open yourself up to it.

The same thing happened to me. The international development space was relatively new in India at the time, and few people were interested in it, especially women, as it required a lot of travel. But it was a promising sector, and if you had an analytical degree and understanding, you could do it.

If a student today wants to make a career in this field, then what skills and habits should he focus on from the beginning?

I think Jane is so creative because she didn’t grow up in an environment of fear. Most of the current young generation doesn’t have to worry about two basic things: shelter and food, and the third most important thing is transportation. That’s readily available now.

Another important thing is creative independence, which must be developed and practiced so that children don’t become so self-conscious that they can’t express their interests and creativity. Therefore, building confidence from childhood is crucial. This won’t happen simply by telling them to be self-reliant. It will happen through your participation and involvement. Organizations must follow this entire process. Only then will children develop self-confidence.

CAREER TIPS

  • It is very important to develop and practice creative independence.
  • Don’t miss on-the-job training as it offers different learning.
  • Join the public health sector only if you have the desire to change things.

 

– Sonia Rana