Dr. Ramya Kumar

Degrees:

• PhD Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto (2018)
• SM Global Health and Population, Harvard University (2011)
• MSc Community Medicine, University of Colombo (2021)
• MBBS University of Peradeniya (2004)

Professional licenses:

Sri Lanka Medical Council Registration (Registration No. 21308)

Other training:

• Seminars on Medical Education, 2-day workshop organized by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna in collaboration with the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge (2018)
• Training of Trainers Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming, 3-day workshop organized by University Grants Commission and Commonwealth of Learning (2018)
• Seminars on Medical Education, 4-day workshop organized by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna in collaboration with the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge (2017)
• Collaborative Specialization in Women’s Health, University of Toronto (2011-2017)
• Advanced Training in Qualitative Health Research Methodology Certificate, Center for Critical Qualitative Health Research, University of Toronto (2014)
• Interdisciplinary Concentration in Women, Gender and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, United States of America (2011-2009)
• MD Anaesthesiology (Part 1 A) Examination, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo (2007)

Other contributions:

• Coordinator, 3rd Undergraduate Research Symposium, Organized by the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna held on January 19, 2021

Selected awards and fellowships:

• Joan Eakin Award for Methodological Excellence in a Qualitative Doctoral Dissertation, University of Toronto (2019)
• David Coburn Award for Academic Excellence, University of Toronto (2018)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship/Visa  (2015/16)
• Lupina Senior Doctoral Fellowship, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto (2015/16)
• Junior Resident Fellowship, Massey College in the University of Toronto (2015/16)
• Margaret McNamara Educational Grant for Women from Developing Countries (2015)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship/Visa (2014)
• Delta Kappa Gamma World Fellowship, Delta Gamma Kappa Society International (2014)
• Global Health Student Research Award, University of Toronto (2013)
• Doctoral Research Award, International Development Research Center, Canada (2012)
• University of Toronto Open Fellowship, University of Toronto (2011)
• Michael von Clemm Traveling Fellowship, Harvard School of Public Health (2010)

Recognition:

• Commissioner, Lancet-SIGHT Commission on Peaceful Societies through Health and Gender Equality, Swedish Institute for Global Health Transformation (SIGHT), https://sight.nu/commissioners/ (2019-present)
• Member, Collective for the Political Determinants of Health, University of Oslo, https://www.sum.uio.no/english/research/networks/the-collective-for-the-political-determinants-of-health/members/ (2020-present)

Membership:

Sri Lanka Medical Association (2018-present)

Jaffna Medical Association (2018-present)

Jaffna Science Association (2017-present)

Peer-reviewed publications:

1. Kumar R, Birn, AE, Bhuyan, R, Wong, JPH (2022). Universal health coverage and public-private arrangements within Sri Lanka’s mixed health system: Perspectives from women seeking healthcare. Social Science & Medicine, 296, 114777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114777

2. Kumar R (2022). Sri Lanka, Alma-Ata and beyond: ‘Health for All’ in neo-liberal times. Economic & Political Weekly, 57 (21), 31-33.

3. Kumarasiri T, Kumar R, Sooriyakumar T (2021). Spectrum of haematological neoplasms at a tertiary care hospital in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Jaffna Medical Journal, 33(2), 13–18. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jmj.v33i2.132

4. Ziyard S, Amarasingam S, Sangaralingam K, Gamage PK, Sosai ST, Kumar R, et al. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to blood donation in a selected population in Jaffna. Jaffna Medical Journal, 33(2), 24–30. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jmj.v33i2.134 (undergraduate research supervisor)

5. Birn AE, Kumar R (2021). Societal Determinants and Determination of Health. In S. Benatar & G. Brock (Eds.), Global Health: Ethical Challenges(pp. 28-50) (2^nd Edition). Cambridge University Press.

6. Rajasooriyar CI, Kumar R, Sriskandarajah MH, Gnanathayalan SW, Kelly J, Sabesan S (2021). Exploring the psychosocial morbidity of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer in a post-war setting: Experiences of Northern Sri Lankan women. Supportive Care in Cancer, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06296-5

7. Weerasinghe RHM, Lakmali JMD, De Silva BHKG, Kumar R, Sathiadas MG (2020). Burnout syndrome, associated factors and coping strategies of Jaffna Medical Students. Jaffna Medical Journal 32 (1), 12-17.

8. Kumar R. (2020). Beyond Numbers: Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 Response, Politics and People. Polity 8 (1&2), 8-13.

9. Kumar, R (2019). Public–private partnerships for universal health coverage? The future of “free health” in Sri Lanka. Globalization and Health15, 75 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0522-6

10. Kumar, R & Birn, AEB (2018). Universal health coverage can best be achieved by public systems. BMJ Opinion. 

11. Kumar, R (2018). Dual practice and inequities in access to healthcare. Jaffna Medical Journal, 30(1), 6-12.

12. Kumar, R (2017). ‘Free health’ in the face of healthcare privatization in post-1977 Sri Lanka. Polity, 7(2), 24-30.

13. Kumar R, Birn AE, McDonough P (2016). Agenda-setting in women’s health: Critical analysis of a quarter century of paradigm shifts in international and global health. In J. Gideon (ed.) Gender and Health Handbook(pp.25-44). Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

14. Kumar, R (2013). How are women’s experiences of childbirth represented in the literature? A critical review of qualitative research set in the global south. Women’s Health and Urban Life, 12 (1), 19-38.

15. Kumar, R (2013). Abortion in Sri Lanka: The double standard. American Journal of Public Health, 103 (3), 400-404.

16. Kumar, R (2012). Misoprostol and the politics of abortion in Sri Lanka. Reproductive Health Matters, 20 (40), 166-174.

17. Kumar R, Einstein, G (2012). Cardiovascular disease in Somali women in the diaspora. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports, 6 (3), 229 -237.

18. Kumar R, Reich M.R (2011). Registering Misoprostol in Sri Lanka. In Roberts M.J. & Reich M.R. Pharmaceutical Reform: A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity(pp.211-223). Washington, DC: World Bank.

Thesis publications

1. Kumar R (2018). The privatization imperative: Women negotiating healthcare in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

2. Kumar R (2020). Antenatal care service utilization in public and private sectors, out-of-pocket payments, and associated factors among “low risk” pregnant women awaiting delivery at a public sector maternity centre in Colombo. Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo (2021).

3. Kumar R (2011). Registering misoprostol in Sri Lanka: Why is unsafe abortion off the agenda? Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.

Invited peer-review:

1. BMJ 2022
2. BMC Health Services Research 2022
3. Social Science and Medicine 2022
4. International Journal of Health Policy and Management 2021, 2022
5. Bulletin of the World Health Organization   2020
6. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care March 2016
7. BioMed Central Public Health June   2015
8. International Journal of Women’s Health January   2014

Selected presentations (invited):

1. Health System in Sri Lanka, Invited presentation in the “New Trends in Health Care: An International View” course at the Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy of the University of Lleida. 22 October 2021 (online)

2. Women’s talk: A critical bricolage. Invited presentation with R. MacDonald at the CQ Virtual Seminar Series, Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research, University of Toronto. 29 January 2021 (Online).

3. Qualitative research in clinical practice: Possibilities and potential challenges. Invited presentation at the Jaffna Medical Association Virtual Webinar Series. 23 January 2021 (Online).

4. Diverging Trajectories in Sri Lanka: A “Controlled” Pandemic and a Depression in the Making. Invited presentation with A.A.Kadirgamar at the Development Policy and Power Seminar Series, Centre for Critical Development Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. 27 November 2020 (Online).

5. Gender-based Violence and Violence Against Women/Girls: Towards a broader definition, GBV Symposium jointly organized by the University of Jaffna, British Council (SriLanka), JSAC and FSID (2019)
6. Beyond universal health coverage? ‘Free health’ in Sri Lanka. Public lecture organized by the Kukah Centre for Faith, Leadership and Public Policy Research, Abuja, Nigeria (2019)

7. National struggles for health equity and universal health coverage: Political drivers. Panel, The Political Origins of Health Inequities and Universal Health Coverage, Organized by The Independent Panel on Global Governance for Health, University of Oslo, Norway (2018).

8. Dual practice and inequities in access to healthcare: A qualitative study from Kandy. Oral Presentation, First International Conference on Medical Humanities 2018, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (2018)

9. Public healthcare in Sri Lanka: An endangered model of “universal health coverage”? Comparative Program on Health and Society Seminar Series, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. Canada (2016).

10. Is our health service free? Jana Mediriya, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Invited by the Kandy Branch of the Sri Lanka Rationalists’ Association (2015).

11. Medicine and Women’s Bodies: The Case of Misoprostol In Sri Lanka, Women Gender and Health Working Group, Harvard School of Public Health, United States of America (2010).

• Access to health care
• Universal health coverage
• Politics of global health
• Gender and women’s health
• Social determinants of health
• History of public health/medicine