Debakanta Naik

I am a dedicated healthcare administrator and public health leader with over 14 years of experience in strengthening health systems, policy advocacy, program management, and capacity building across national and international organizations. With a strong academic foundation, including an MPH and an Executive MBA in Healthcare Administration, I specialize in strategic planning, evidence-based interventions, and stakeholder engagement to drive impactful health initiatives. My career is marked by a commitment to innovation, equity, and sustainable healthcare delivery, with a focus on enhancing service quality and operational excellence. 

As Deputy Director at KIMS Super Speciality Hospital, I manage clinical operations, quality assurance, and resource optimization for a 300-bed facility. My previous roles at the World Health Organization and other institutions involved strengthening health systems, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Academically, I hold an Executive MBA in Healthcare Administration from FMS, Delhi University, an MPH from NIE-ICMR, Chennai, and an MBBS from MKCG Medical College, Berhampur University, providing me with a strong foundation in medical and public health sciences.

Professional Experience
Deputy Director KIMS Super Speciality Hospital, Bhubaneswar | June 2024 – Present 

Support in hospital administration, quality assurance, and patient safety for a 300-bed super-specialty hospital. Oversee clinical operations, ensure the highest standards of care, and contribute to organizational growth. Manage resource allocation, staff capacity building, and promote continuous quality improvement.

Manager - Public Health Tata Steel Foundation, Odisha | Jan 2023 – June 2023 

Managed public health projects in tribal regions, focusing on health systems strengthening, immunization, and maternal health interventions. Led strategic partnerships and advocacy efforts with state health departments to deliver effective public health services in under-resourced areas.
 

Zonal Coordinator - NTDs World Health Organization | Sept 2019 – Dec 2023 

Lead strategic health initiatives, focusing on technical support for state health programs including mass drug administration and leprosy elimination. Provided strategic oversight for COVID-19 response and program implementation, collaborating with state and district health authorities. Led public health program implementation and evaluation, ensuring evidence-based decision-making.

Program Officer Jhpiego | Dec 2014 – June 2015 & July 2017 – July 2018 

Led IUCD service expansion projects, providing training and supportive supervision to medical officers. Directed post-training supervision to ensure sustainability and operationalization of family planning services in underperforming regions.

National Program Officer - NBC & IYCN Nutrition International | Feb 2016 – June 2017 

Planned and executed neonatal and child nutrition interventions in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Developed monitoring frameworks, partnerships, and tools to assess program impact and improve implementation efficiency.
Surveillance Medical Officer - National Polio Surveillance Project World Health Organization | March 2012 – Dec 2014 

Led polio surveillance efforts in high-risk districts, coordinating immunization campaigns and outbreak response teams. Contributed to India’s Polio-free certification through successful campaigns in challenging rural and remote areas.

Medical Officer Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Bhubaneswar | Feb 2010 – June 2010 Conducted research on lymphatic filariasis across coastal districts, managing patient recruitment and follow-up for clinical trials.

District Child Survival Coordinator (RI) NRHM-UNICEF, Odisha | July 2008 – Sept 2009 

Coordinated routine immunization activities in conflict-affected and remote tribal areas, strengthening local health systems and ensuring vaccine coverage.

Education
● Executive MBA (Health Care Administration) Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University | 2015–2017
● MPH (Health Service Development and Research) National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR School of Public Health, Chennai SCTIMST, Trivandrum | 2010–2012
● MBBS MKCG Medical College, Berhampur University | 1999–2006