Americares Names Chandrashekar New India Country Director
India-West Staff Reporter
STAMFORD, CT – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has appointed Chandrashekar V.S. as the new director of Americares India. In his new role, he will design, implement, and direct health programs aimed at strengthening health systems and expanding access to care for individuals affected by poverty or disaster across 23 states in India.
Chandrashekar will lead response activities, oversee climate and disaster resilience initiatives, manage a highly successful mobile clinic program for low-income urban residents, and direct an extensive health facility upgrade program. Additionally, he will supervise the operations of the Americares India distribution center, a press release said.
“Chandra’s extensive experience managing health programs across India and East Africa will be invaluable as we strive to increase access to quality health services in India,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “We are very excited for him to take on this key role.”
Prior to joining Americares India, he spent over a decade with MSI Reproductive Choices, a global nonprofit and leading provider of reproductive health care. His career also includes senior leadership roles with The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Population Services International, Ipas India, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.
Since 2006, Americares India has been supporting health services for families affected by poverty, severe storms, major flooding, disease outbreaks, and other emergencies. Americares India operates 13 mobile health centers, providing care to more than 130,000 people annually, and screens over 125,000 patients each year for diabetes and hypertension through its noncommunicable disease program. The organization also runs a successful school-based health program in more than 175 schools.
Chandrashekar holds a master’s degree in rural management from the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat, and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Mysore’s SDM College of Business Management. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Kannada, and speaks Malayalam, Tamil, and Tulu. He resides in Mumbai with his wife, Sudha.
