SUMEET BHAVSAR M.D, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sumeet Bhavsar is an Internal Medicine Board Certified Physician who practices in Florida, USA.  He spent the majority of his life in Zimbabwe, Africa and has been involved in aid projects from an early stage, including working in cholera camps in Zimbabwe, pursuing nutritional projects for children born to HIV-positive mothers, and now more recently working on refugee camps across Europe. 

He is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management through the Johns Hopkins University. He is also in the process of attaining an Executive MBA from the Kellogg school at the Northwestern University. 

As the CEO of the organization, he plans to use his background in public policy to advocate for changes on a national level. He also hopes to use his diverse background, education, and experiences, to shape the future of the organization to one that is truly in line of making a global impact using sustainable methods.

His vision is envisaged by the following quotation.

“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - that is to have succeeded” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

DHRUV MARWAHA, PRESIDENT

Dhruv is a Management Consultant by profession and has worked with firms such as AON, PwC and the Tata Group. He has an engineering background and also got his MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a focus in Finance and Strategy. 

He has been affiliated with several different non-profits dealing with issues such as Health, Education and even human trafficking. Dhruv also played a significant role in the South Asian Community on topics relating to Professional Development and Political Issues. In addition, he also chaired one of the biggest Non-Profit conferences in 2015 which was attended by more than 600 people from all over North America. In 2015, Dhruv was awarded the Presidential Coin for exemplary and extraordinary service towards community.

As the President of the Organization, he is committed to establishing VASS as an exemplary organization by focusing on meaningful issues and collaborating with other organizations.

LUKWESA MORIN, DIRECTOR - CRISIS RESPONSE

Lukwesa Morin assists with executive operations related to VASS global partnership, direction, and implementation of strategic sustainability measures. As a former environmental consultant for The World Bank, in conjunction with United Nations World Food Program, she has experienced-first hand- the challenges that countries-particularly third world, have in common. As a passionate environmental advocate with a background in  environmental science and public policy, she aims to integrate these mutually exclusive concepts and devise sustainable products and measures that can lay the foundation for growth and innovation. 

KAVITA TEKCHANDANI, LEGAL COUNSEL

Kavita Tekchandani is an attorney and will contribute towards legal counsel and policy for VASS. She has experience in refugee work and human rights policy. Currently, Kavita is a project coordinator for the Dhaat Refugee Medical Project in Rajasthan, India, through a collaboration with the Universal Just Action Society NGO, for providing medical assistance to Pakistani Hindu refugees living in migrant camps.

She also regularly assists in drafting publications and policy considerations highlighting human rights issues involving women in South Asia.

ETHAN CADER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - SOUTH AFRICA

Based in Cape Town, Ethan's focus has primarily been on digital marketing and branding; having worked with multiple established business as well as start-ups, from restaurants and fitness studios to medical-tourism organizations and investment companies. Assisting them to refine their vision, use digital mediums to increase their visibility and reach their target audience. He is passionate about helping people identify their vision and achieve greatness by unlocking their true potential. 

"Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." 

NASEERA JOOSAB M.D

Naseera Joossab is a physician based in Durban, South Africa. Her areas of interest lie in women's health and empowerment. 

With a background in medicine and extensive experience in community outreach and rural health, her key contributions are health services and health education. In addition, based in South Africa, she has direct exposure to the common crises that are faced in third world countries. She thus serves as liason for VASS in achieving some of the goals outlined in the organization's core work.

 "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful"  - Marie Curie

FRANCISCO CARDOSO, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - ZIMBABWE

Francisco Cardoso heads up the Zimbabwe Initiative for VASS Global Partnership. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he has a deep operational knowledge in the complexities of the country and understands the key factors which affect and contribute to the struggles of everyday life.

His past work with Emerald Hill Orphanage and St Giles Primary School in Zimbabwe shows his passion for the protection and care of children. He strongly believes that a child should have the opportunity to be just that, a child. Francisco strongly believes that our inherent humanity is our biggest strength and will be the determining factor in changing the lives of those less fortunate for the better.

"A basic resource is the basic right and not a privilege" Francisco has worked to make this a reality by working with a local organization iWIN.

MANSI KOTWAL M.D

Mansi is a pediatrician in Washington D.C.  Her interest In the program surrounds the role telemedicine can play in this area.  Mental health services, specifically, are a huge need and she would like to find a way to provide these services with the use of telemedicine. 

SONIYA BHAVSAR SHUKLA M.D

Soniya Bhavsar Shukla  is a Pediatric and Internal Medicine Board Certified Physician who practices in Florida, USA.  She has spent her life in Zimbabwe, Africa and has been involved in projects with international aid organizations including  UNICEF , World Vision and Kidscan. She has also volunteered during crisis situations such as the Cholera Epidemic in 2008 in Zimbabwe.  Her passion for healthcare has prompted her to become a part of VASS and formulate new solutions for global health care during times of crisis response. 

ANURADHA BHAVSAR M.D

Anuradha Bhavsar is an Internal Medicine Resident Physician who practices in Tampa Florida, USA.  She has Canadian roots but has grown up in Zimbabwe. She has been involved in philanthropic projects in the fields of education, nutrition and sanitation in Southern Africa. She has volunteered during the cholera crisis in Zimbabwe as well as played a role in healthcare reform for the country. Her experience and work ethic make her valuable member of the organization. 

Her vision is summarized by Martin Luther King Jr.

 “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

LANA ISMAIL M.D

Lana Ismail is a pediatrician in Washington, D.C. with a passion for educating and helping underserved populations. Her interest in global health was fostered during trips to Tanzania with the Baylor AIDS program as well as to Thailand to work with victims of human trafficking. After the war began in Syria in 2011, she became uniquely affected as a Syrian-American, supporting family members who uprooted their lives to the United States and looking for ways to sustainably support refugees all over the world. She is a proud member of the VASS team, focusing primarily on ideas to improve access to healthcare and education.