Celebrating the 3rd Edition of Excellence and Innovation
Welcome to the epicentre of groundbreaking advancements in women's health – the Global Women's Health Innovation Conference & Awards (GWHIC). Since our inaugural event in 2022, we've been on a transformative journey. The recently concluded 3rd edition held at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) in the vibrant city of Mumbai on December 11, 2024, welcomed over 200 attendees and visionaries and experts in the area of women's health.
A Remarkable Evolution
From launching India's first event dedicated to women's health & health equity, the Global Women’s Health Innovation Conference & Awards (GWHIC) has evolved into a trailblazing platform at the forefront of women's health innovation, femtech and digital health.
This year's event garnered strong support from leading industry players and changemakers. Through strategic collaborations and meaningful partnerships, we are ensuring that the event continues to bring together great minds, visionaries, public health & government bodies that can help accelerate this transformation, health practitioners and innovators including the bright and young sparks from reputed healthcare and tech universities to showcase their innovations and be a part of these conversations about advancing women's health and making health equity a reality in India and beyond.
Be A Part Of This Mission!
Recognizing and celebrating trailblazers who are making a profound impact on women’s health through their unwavering passion, innovative approaches, and disruptive ideas.
Women’s Health Innovation & Community Impact Awards honoured winners across the different categories. Judged independently by eminent industry experts, 12 winning nominations of individuals/organisations driving positive change in the landscape of women’s well-being and health were awarded the prestigious GWHIC Awards for innovation and community impact.
The Awards Ceremony felicitating the changemakers in the women’s health industry was held at GWHIC 2024 on December 11, 2024 at IIT Bombay.
Chairperson -NABH, Co-founder & Director, Koita Foundation
Mr. Rizwan Koita is the co-founder & Director of Koita Foundation. He also serves as the Chairperson of NABH (www.nabh.co), India’s leading accreditation organization for hospitals, covering over 20,000 hospitals across India.
Mr. Koita is an entrepreneur and philanthropist with a passion to leverage emerging technologies and business process innovation to have meaningful social impact.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay & a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from MIT – ranked at the top in both programs.
After graduation, Mr. Koita spent 5 years with McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. He cofounded TransWorks, one of the first BPO firms in India. In 2003, TransWorks was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group, when it was 1,800 professionals strong.
Mr. Koita co-founded CitiusTech (www.citiustech.com) in 2005, and served as CitiusTech’s CEO till October 2021. Under his leadership, CitiusTech has become one of the fastest growing healthcare technology company, with over Rs. 4,400 Crores in revenues, over 8,500 technology professionals and serving more than 150 healthcare organizations worldwide. CitiusTech became India’s first healthcare technology Unicorn and India’s 25th Unicorn in 2019.
Mr. Koita is now actively associated with his philanthropic venture, Koita Foundation (www.koitafoundation.org), which focuses on 2 areas – Digital Health and NGOs Transformation. As part of its Digital Health focus, KF partners with leading academic institutions, hospitals and industry associations to drive Digital Health adoption in India.
In 2021, KF partnered with IIT Bombay to establish the Koita Centre for Digital Health (www.kcdh.iitb.ac.in). Similarly, KF has partnered with Ashoka University to establish the Koita Centre for Digital Health – Ashoka (https://www.ashoka.edu.in/page/koita- centre-for-digital-health-at-ashoka/) . KF has also partnered with the National Cancer Grid (NCG) and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in 2022 to form the Koita Centre for Digital Oncology (www.kcdo.in).
Mr. Koita is a winner of TiE Hall of Fame Award in 2022. Mr. Koita received the prestigious IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. He also received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year Award in 2013.
M.D., Ph.D. Provost, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences
Gold Medal awardee at M.D. (Ob & Gyn).
Awarded Ph.D. under the Faculty of Management by Pune University.
Member of various Governmental bodies including MCI, Maharashtra Medical Council, Maharashtra Nursing Council, Senate of the MUHS etc & professional organizations like FICCI, NATHEALTH etc.
Dr. Rajiv is championing the concept of Health Promoting Universities in India. He is a Member of the Steering group of International Health Promoting Universities and Colleges, the working group of UGC to bring out policy on Health Promoting University & the Fit India Movement Campaign Committee, MHRD, GoI. He has been nominated on the WHO Project on Development of Health and Wellness Assessment Index for Higher Educational Institutions in India.
Dr. Rajiv is a Member of the Specialists Board of DNB & FNB in the specialty of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, MoHFW, GoI and a member of Accreditation Board for the Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) and the CII Western Region Sub-Committee on Healthcare.
Dr. Rajiv has contributed a number of articles in various national and international journals.
As a member of various national bodies, Dr Rajiv has contributed to policy formulation and regulatory.
mechanisms influencing healthcare delivery and medical / nursing education nationally.
Senior Advisor, Avaana Capital, Healthcare Lead, ACT Grants
Sandeep Singhal is a Senior Advisor to Avaana Capital, a climate action and sustainability fund. He co-founded Nexus Venture Partners in 2006, was a General Partner till September 2021, and is now a Senior Advisor.
Sandeep leads Healthcare philanthropy at ACT Grants, an initiative of venture capitalists and start-up founders to initially assist in COVID relief. Their current focus is on deployment of digital health solutions in Tuberculosis, Oncology, Mental Health and Rural Access.
Sandeep has 35 years of experience across venture capital, entrepreneurship, and management consulting and software development. Prior to starting Nexus, Sandeep co- founded Medusind Solutions in 2002 and led it for 3 years before transitioning and exiting to a US private equity fund, and co-founded eVentures India in 1999 to incubate and invest in early stage Indian start-ups. eVentures was one of the earliest Indian venture capital funds and helped build market leaders like MakeMyTrip, NTT NetMagic Solutions and Firstsource/CustomerAsset. Sandeep earlier held senior roles at McKinsey & Company and Digital Equipment in the US.
Sandeep joined the Board of Titan Company Limited in November 2020 and is the Chair of the Risk Management Committee, apart from being on the Audit, Nominations & Remuneration, and Investment Committees. He is on the board of HT Media, India’s largest listed media company.
Sandeep received an MBA (with Distinction) from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 with a dual Major in Finance and Marketing, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1987, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi honour societies. He is the past President of the Stanford Alumni Association of India and has served on the Executive Council of the Wharton India Alumni Association and is on the Board of TiE Mumbai.
President of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI)
President of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), Chair - YGAA Committee Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Past Chair Safe Abortion Committee FIGO (International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology);
Project lead and convener for the BMGF and USAID projects in FOGSI and Convener of the Five country AOFOG Quality of Care initiative. He has been instrumental and has led the proposal which has resulted in the largest ever grant (over 2 Million USD) received for FOGSI for a multi state initiative in private sector facilities which will be active from 2023 - 2026.
Led the digitization initiatives within FOGSI, the FOGSI Guidelines and Standards for Adolescent and Youth Friendly health Services, FOGSI statements on Cesarean Rates, Hysterectomy rates, Contraceptive Implants, ART Bill, Surrogacy bill and several other initiatives. He has played a significant role in the 2021 amendments to the MTP (Abortion) act of India.
Awarded the Fellowship (FRCOG) Honoris Causa by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK).
Consultant: Ashwini Maternity and Surgical Hospital, Center for Endoscopy and IVF, Visiting Consultant for IVF at more than a dozen IVF centres. Independent Director on the Board of API Holdings (holding company of Pharmeasy Indian largest e Pharmacy).
Chairperson, Health and Environment Leadership Platform (H.E.L.P) Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) · Full-time Founder and Patron of AHPI, ANBAI, and CAHO. He played a significant part in incorporating healthcare communication among the NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals (4th Edition), introducing communication skills within the MBBS and PG curricula for medical students across India, rolling back the service tax for the health sector and making assaults on doctors a non-bailable offence.
He led the expert group on medical education for the NEP (2019) headed by Dr. Kasturirangan. He initiated the creation of a national Think Tank on Health at the NLSIU.He was responsible for the founding of Vayah Vikas, an organisation focused on the wellbeing of senior citizens.
He is a member of the Health Insurance Consultative Committee constituted by the IRDAI, GOI and member of the joint working group of the NHA and IRDAI for health claim exchanges by the MOHFW. At the State level, Dr. Thomas played an important role in developing the Karnataka State Public Health Policy as the Member-Secretary of its Task Force.
He is currently the Chair of the SDG 3 (Health) Sub-Committee of the GOI (incidentally the only non-IAS officer to head such a committee).He has edited several publications, Communicate. Care. Cure.
A Guide to Healthcare Communication (3rd Edition) Climate Change and the Health Sector: Healing the World and the Handbook of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety (3rd Edition); Health Law and Ethics: Critical Reflections (with NLSIU); Perils in Practice: The Prevention of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals (with IMA); In Sound Health: A Handbook on Sound, Music and Health; The Future of Healthcare: Transforming with Technology and Embracing the Golden Years, A guide to Happy & Healthy Aging/ A Guidebook for Older Adults .During the Covid crisis, Dr. Thomas, through the state chapters of AHPI, worked closely with the Central government, State governments and NGOs to support India’s battle against the pandemic by helping set up dedicated COVID hospitals with ICU beds and ventilators, organising training, equipment, supplies, vaccine distribution, and resources, including the provision of oxygen concentrators and generation plants.
Dr. Thomas’ contributions to the medical profession were recognised by the IMA, who conferred upon him the IMA Dr. M. G. Garg All-Time Achievement Award for Outstanding and Distinguished Services, Dr. Thomas was awarded the Waterfalls Global Award (2022) by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, one of only 15 global winners.
Partner, Senior Vice President, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Frost & Sullivan
Reenita Das is a healthcare futurist and strategist, passionate about changing the healthcare industry. She got voted the top 100 women in Femtech and Healthtech and the top 50 Healthcare strategists to follow in 2021.
She has lived and worked in over 10 countries in the world, focusing on healthcare issues and working with public and private sector to implement growth change strategies.
Das currently serves as Partner and Senior Vice President and is the first woman Partner at Frost & Sullivan. In addition, she is the Founder of GLOW (Growth and Innovation of Women) program. She is also on the Board of a non profit “High Tech High Heels” Silicon Valley that focuses on increasing gender diversity for STEM. She is also part of the AdvisoryBoard in Arab Health.
In her current role, Das manages a global business and works largely with clients on futuristic scenarios and forecasts in understanding how healthcare will operate 20 years from today. She is focused heavily on rethinking consumer business models as healthcare makes a transition to health and identifying opportunities with companies outside of healthcare to bring solutions to the healthcare sector.
She is also focusing heavily on showcasing “Femtech” and the growth opportunities from this new sector which includes advising femtech companies on the right strategies and commercial business models to success.
Medical Director Divakars Speciality Hospital , CEO and Chairman ARTIST
Dr. Hema Divakar is a leading medical professional of India with a vision to improve the healthcare services ecosystem for the welfare of women. She has over the last three decades, been a game changer in healthcare, establishing new benchmarks, standards and touching women’s lives in the process.
A practicing OB/GYN consultant and being the CEO of ARTIST, Dr. Hema’s immense contributions over the years have has established her as a name to reckon with. She is also the Medical Director of The Divakars Speciality Hospital established in 1990 , in Bengaluru , a centre of excellence in women’s healthcare.
Her immense contribution to this field in the 35 enriching years of her career has established her as a name. Her continuous efforts towards ensuring well-being of her patients have earned her accolades as a competent clinician. In 2005, She established Asian Research & Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST), a premier institute for learning, with a mission to offer cost-effective training without a compromise on quality. Her focus areas have been women’s healthcare, innovative research, and impacting policy changes at the national level.
She has been Principal Investigator for various clinical trials, implementation research and has many publications in International and national Journals. She has contributed in various capacities for the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), & through her institute she has been instrumental in offering fellowships for pursuing education in various specialties.
ARTIST confers ICOG recognized fellowship & certification in Ultrasound/ Perinatology, besides conducting various online & fast track courses on contraception and lifestyle.
She understands that reaching out to as many people as possible; the philosophy of CONNECT & COLLABORATE is one of the keys to the success of a medicosocial enterprise. A BORN LEADER Dr. Hema has been successfully moving ahead with a clear vision & mission to reach every girl every woman. Shouldering multiple roles simultaneously, she has held various prestigious positions. She is also the Indian Ambassador to the international organization of OB/GYNs FIGO.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering in Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay
Rohit Srivastava, FNASc, FNAE, FAMS. Vigyan Shri Awardee 2024, SSB Prize 2021 and Himanshu Patel Chair Professor of Department BSBE at IIT Bombay, Dr.Rohit Srivastava is passionate about affordable healthcare Technologies.
Rohit Srivastava, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, who has filed more than 250 patents and been granted over 80, is one of the Vigyan Shri awardees honoured by the Indian government for distinguished contribution in the field of Science and Technology.
His seminal work in biomedical engineering, especially in the area of affordable healthcare devices in the Indian market, led him to be recognised under the “Technology and Innovation” category of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024, which felicitates outstanding researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
Prof. Rohit Srivastava has demonstrated his versatility by conducting fundamental and translational research in the field of health care. His tremendous efforts and commitment to meet the challenging needs of underdeveloped rural healthcare sector of India has led to the development of numerous affordable point of care technologies. Four such technologies (SYNC, Uchek, SmartSense and CareMother) have been commercialized, and more than 10 products are in the process of regulatory approval.
Prof Srivastava's lab has filed more than 200 patent and design applications to the US and Indian Patent Office with more than 50 granted patents and several published and has graduated 50 PhD and 100 Masters students. He has been awarded the Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Medical Sciences 2021 and is an elected Fellow of NASI, INAE, NAMS, RSC and RSB, London.
He has been instrumental in encouraging 10 of his students to set up Companies either through a TBI or otherwise and is himself a co-founder on 5 startup's with more than 3 women entrepreneurs co founders.
He is also on the panel of several companies where he mentors them through startup grants and one such startup product, CareMother has achieved self-sustainability to focus further on last mile and women health issues. Care Mother, a hardware and app for diagnosing high risk pregnancy in rural population has already touched more than 0.5 million women and has managed to make a huge impact on rural healthcare delivery!
Country Director, Engender Health
Ajay oversees EngenderHealth’s diverse portfolio of sexual and reproductive health and maternal and obstetric care programs in India. He brings more than 30 years of experience in adolescent and child health, obstetrics and gynecology, HIV and AIDS, and communicable diseases in India. Prior to joining EngenderHealth, he served as the Commissioner for Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Ajay earned a doctorate of medicine in preventative and social medicine from Lady Hardinge Medical College and a diploma in gynecology and obstetrics from Maulana Azad Medical College.
Founder and Medical Director, Bloom IVF Group
Dr. Nandita Palshetkar is one of the pioneers of IVF treatment not just in Mumbai but in India specializing in Assisted Reproductive Technologies and has been instrumental in helping over 25,000 aspiring parents to have a baby of their own. She is credited with an average IVF success rate of 35-45% in started cycles in women under 35.
Dr. Nandita Palshetkar attained her MBBS degree from Grant Medical College, Mumbai and MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Mumbai University, 1993 following which she trained under the Fellowship of Indian College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1995. She continued her training in IVF & Micromanipulation from the University of Ghent, Belgium. As one of the pioneers in the field of infertility treatment in India for the last three decades, she introduced various techniques in India such as Assisted Laser Hatching, Embryo Scope and Egg banking.
CEO & Director, Heartnet
Two decades in the industry with experience in product management & Business Operations.Strong believer of Integrity, Values and Professional Ethics. Strong domain knowledge of Healthcare, Energy & Infrastructure business.
Specialties: Business Strategy, Product Management, Government liaison, Business Operations, Supply Chain development & Management.
Medical Director & Chief at DPU IVF & Endoscopy Center President Elect, FOGSI
Meet Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar, the Medical Director & Chief of DPU IVF & Endoscopy Center, Pimpri, Pune. She has vast experience of about 34 years in the field of ART & Endoscopy.The specialist has touched thousands of lives in her journey.
Dr. Tandulwadkar is the one who started the trend of Laparoscopic fertility enhancing surgeries and all advanced endoscopic surgeries in Pune since 1995. Follows are some of the prestigious position and achievements that she holds.
The renowned IVF specialist and endoscopic surgeon consult patients from all over the world. The good doctor is known nationally and internationally. In 2004, she was awarded the "Sarvashree" award and has received the Gold medal for her pioneering work in the field of Endoscopy & ART. She has published many papers in National and International journals.
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer (Women & Wellness) - Building Karkinos
Sripriya Rao is a dynamic leader spearheading innovation in women’s wellness and cancer care across India. Under her leadership, Karkinos Healthcare has achieved a groundbreaking milestone—screening over 60,000 women in less than two years and saving more than 1,000 lives.
As part of her pioneering journey, Sripriya has worked tirelessly with patient advocates, gynaecologists, and research groups to create new wellness categories and foster strategic collaborations with international organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Her vision has transformed access to healthcare for countless women, emphasizing affordability and inclusivity.
Before joining Karkinos, Sripriya brought two decades of expertise as a trusted strategic advisor and organizational transformation coach for C-suite leaders. At Tata Consultancy Services, she led Organizational Change Management across India, Asia Pacific, Australia, and the Middle East.
Karkinos Healthcare is a purpose-driven oncology platform leveraging technology to ensure no individual is deprived of cancer care due to access or affordability. The Women’s Wellness Initiative offers exclusive HPV testing, vaccination, and comprehensive support, marking a significant stride in early detection and management of cancer.
Founder & CEO, Humm Care
With close to two decades of experience working with the Tata Group, Sripriya has been a trusted strategic advisor and organizational transformation coach for many C-Suite leaders. She worked as Partner and Head for Organisation Change Management for Tata Consultancy Services, managing India, Asia Pacific, Australia and Middle East regions. She is a consistent high performer, recognised as one of the youngest partner and among top twenty five women high performers at Tata Consultancy Services. Sripriya is credited with leading more than fifty highly proficient change teams for large transformation initiatives in Asia Pacific and creating differentiated product offerings and consulting frameworks to manage large scale change in the areas of Next Generation solutions, Enterprise Agility, Digital, Cloud, Robotics and Machine Learning.
Among her many successful transformation stories, Sripriya led a consulting team to help transform Wealth Management platform – integrating front to back office operations. Similarly, she helped modernise the IT platform for Department of Posts, India across 23 postal circles. Sripriya received her B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication from NMAM Institute of Technology and is a CTT certified consultant at Barett Values Centre on Leadership values assessment and culture.
Psychiatrist,Trellis Family Center, President, Bombay Psychiatric Society
Celebrated Mental Health Speaker & Expert
Considered among the top #mentalhealth practitioners in India, Dr. Ruksheda is an eminent Psychiatrist with a distinguished practice spanning over 20 years, specializing in adolescents, young adults, women, and families. She is a celebrated speaker on Mental Health, with three Tedx talks to her credit.
A passionate advocate of community mental health, Dr. Ruksheda is actively involved with various communities and NGOs to expand mental health literacy and prevention of Psychiatric conditions. She is a well-known media personality and is in the spotlight for addressing the taboos and stigma related to mental health.
A leading women healthcare expert, Dr. Ruksheda serves as a Board/Committee member in leading healthcare and business organisations including:
As the Global Women's Health Innovation Conference Advisory Board Member, Dr. Ruksheda will be instrumental in bringing together the best professionals in the mental health segment to discuss women's mental health.
Medical Director, CooperSurgical & Adjunct Asst. Professor, Yale University School of Medicine
Vrunda B Desai M.D. is the Medical Director at CooperSurgical and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Desai is a Board-Certified Ob/Gyn with fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery.
Her research interests are focused on patient centered and health services outcomes research, specifically the comparative effectiveness of various surgical techniques as well as the impact of practice guidelines and regulatory statements on clinical practice and shared decision making.
We are standing strong because of the continuous support of our partners who believe in our mission of advancing women's health and have joined forces to help make an impact and bring women's health in India front and centre.
Interested to join the movement and support the conversation on Women's Health?
Visionary
Speakers & Industry Leaders
Targeted
Audience
Collaborations & Networking
Knowledge Exchange
Elevating the Experience
This year's edition promises to surpass all expectations, reflecting the pulse of an ever-evolving industry. We're expanding our horizons to incorporate new segments and sections that resonate with the pressing needs and desires of the healthcare community.
The 2024 edition will be a convergence of ideas, expertise, and ground breaking solutions that will shape the future of women's health.
Built around the theme Inspire, Integrate, Innovate, GWHIC 2024 looks into the future of women’s health and digs deeper into the potential and opportunities in:
HPV & Cervical Cancer
Maternal Health
IVF & Reproductive Health
Cardiovascular Disease
AI in Preventive Care & Diagnostics
Building a Robust Women's Health Ecosystem
Public/Private Partnerships for Growth & Scaling Up
Whether you're a healthcare professional, innovator or budding talent, researcher, entrepreneur, women's health advocate, or simply passionate about women's health, your presence will be a valuable contribution to this landmark event.
Who Will Attend
Our delegates, guests and community are serving the spectrum of women’s health – hormonal, reproductive, physical, mental and emotional.
Women’s Health Innovators, Service & Solution Providers and Investors
Medical and Healthcare
Government and Academia
Users and Patient Advocacy
Gain visibility, showcase your innovation, products and services at the display arena. Be seen and recognised for the amazing work you are doing in the area of women's health. The perfect platform, right audience and an opportunity to network and build the right connects and collaborate.
Calling all students and educational institutions committed to developing leaders of tomorrow to encourage their students to participate in the Global Women's Health Innovation Conference & Awards Abstract Submission and compete for the Best Abstract Awards in 2024.
Featuring a series of in-depth discussion panels the femtech/healthtech/medtech innovators will have the opportunity to present their innovation to a group of leading clinicians and help bridge the gap. An opportunity for innovators to interact and collaborate.
Gain insights into the latest trends, innovations, and emerging technologies in Women's Health, keeping your organisation at the forefront of industry advancements.
Connect with a highly targeted and quality audience of CXO's, Founders, and Healthcare leaders. Gain prominent exposure and recognition and enhance your brand's visibility and credibility.
Connect with a highly targeted and quality audience of CXO's, Founders, and Healthcare leaders. Gain prominent exposure and recognition and enhance your brand's visibility and credibility.
Join the conversation, discuss key issues that matter the most for the industry, your business or mission.
Collab Function Pvt. Ltd.
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Leading India International Conference & Awards for Women’s Health Innovation with a spotlight on FemTech, Healthtech, Biotech, Genomics and AI.
Event info
Date:
December 11, 2024
Venue:
IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, India
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Praveen Kumar
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