Spotlight | Ms. Subhashree Rajan From Biomedical Innovation to Community Impact: Reimagining Maternal and Child Health in India

1. Can you share a memory that first sparked your interest in healthcare or social service?

My journey wasn’t shaped by textbooks—it was shaped by people. Early mentors showed me that real leadership isn’t about authority, but about showing up where it matters. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the power of education and trusting your instincts. That became my compass.

But it was motherhood that shifted something in me—deep and permanent. I stopped looking at healthcare as a system to fix and started seeing it as a commitment: to honour every woman’s journey, to restore trust where it’s broken, and to make dignity and care non-negotiable. That commitment still guides every step I take.

2. What was your educational journey like, and how did it shape your path?

Choosing Biomedical Engineering when IT dominated career conversations wasn’t easy. Jobs were few. But I didn’t just want a degree—I wanted direction. I spent my time visiting hospitals, meeting doctors, and learning from real-world experiences.

Eventually, I landed a role in a medical device firm. That was my entry into the healthcare system. But the turning point came when I began working with purpose-driven leaders. That’s when I realized—I didn’t want to chase titles. I wanted to build something meaningful.

3. Who were your biggest mentors during your early career?

In my late 20s, I made a pivotal shift—from a rising career in medical technology to the development sector. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it gave me something invaluable: purpose and peace.

My biggest influence was Late Dr. Sailakshmi Ballijepalli—or Dr. Sai, as we called her. She didn’t lead from a pedestal, but from the frontlines. Her belief in people-first healthcare and grassroots leadership shaped the way I think today. Working with her validated everything I had quietly believed in.

I’ve also had the privilege of learning from visionary leaders like Dr. Thimappa Hegde and Dr. Devi Shetty. Their ability to lead with clinical excellence, clarity of thought, and deep compassion continues to inspire how I think about systems and scale.

Through every phase—including the toughest stretches of the pandemic—my partner Raghavendran has been my constant. We navigated toddlerhood, long hours, and emergencies together—not just as co-parents, but as equals driven by mutual respect and a shared purpose. That quiet partnership continues to be my strength, every single day.

4. What challenges did you face transitioning from med-tech to public health?

The shift from industry to public health felt more like a return to purpose than a career jump. I had already been exposed to innovators solving real-world problems—low-cost, accessible tools that worked in rural India.

So, when I moved fully into public health, it wasn’t unfamiliar. It was deeply aligned with what I cared about: simple, scalable solutions for underserved communities. Yes, there was a learning curve—but it felt like home.

5. How has your role evolved at EKAM Foundation, and what’s been your most impactful project?

One project I hold especially close is our maternal and child health initiative in Thiruvallur, launched in 2022. From the start, it reflected Dr. Sai’s long-held vision—where communities own their health journey and mothers become powerful agents of change. Drawing from over a decade of experience and her guidance, we helped shape critical pieces of the program, blending grassroots leadership with system strengthening.

What stood out was how organically the model grew. Women led the way, frontline workers earned deep trust, and panchayats stepped in as active partners. The program wasn’t imposed—it was co-created, evolving with the people it served.

Tragically, we lost Dr. Sai in the early stages of this journey. But this initiative has become a living legacy of her philosophy: to build with people, not just for them.

It reaffirmed for me that the most sustainable change is the kind that communities take forward as their own.

6. How has research complemented your fieldwork in public health?

My research has always been grounded in practical, real-world observations. Even in college, I was drawn to problems that needed simple, useful solutions.

Later, working with innovators reinforced that good design must be user-friendly, affordable, and relevant. Today, whether I’m shaping a new program or refining a tool, I approach it with the same mindset—focus on behavior, patterns, and what already works.

Research, for me, is about clarity—not complexity. It’s a way to support and scale solutions that communities are already creating for themselves.

7. How do you balance fundraising with program design?

Fundraising and program design must move together—one cannot succeed without the other.

At EKAM, we build with long-term impact in mind. That means involving communities from the start and designing for sustainability, not dependency. Our credibility has come from proven models that show real outcomes on the ground. That makes it easier for partners to come on board.

But fundraising isn’t just strategy—it’s trust. You need honesty, shared goals, and the willingness to build together. When partners feel part of the journey—not just the outcome—sustainability follows.

8. What does inclusive healthcare mean to you? How do you envision scaling it?

Inclusive healthcare isn’t about adding more—it’s about making what already exists stronger. Rural communities often have the right people and systems—they just need support, not reinvention.

At EKAM, we’ve learned that scaling doesn’t always mean going wider—it can also mean going deeper. Investing in people, shifting behaviors, and building ownership creates lasting change.

When mothers, frontline workers, and leaders believe the system is theirs, they become its biggest champions.

9. What is your vision for maternal and child health in the next decade?

I believe every birth should be a moment of joy—and every mother and child should be met with dignity and care.

India’s maternal and child health narrative must evolve beyond survival. It should focus on wellness, respect, and shared support. We need to reframe pregnancy and childbirth not as medical events, but as life-changing experiences.

That future won’t come from infrastructure alone—it will come from empathy, equity, and systems built with people, not around them.

Join the Movement

If Subhashree Rajan’s journey resonates with your vision for a more human, inclusive healthcare system, connect with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhashree-rajan-41032258/

At Applied Pathology, we stand with leaders who prioritize people over process and purpose over position. Because the future of healthcare won’t be driven by innovation alone—but by intention, inclusion, and earned trust.