Dr Sam Gnanapragasam
Sam is a psychiatry doctor and researcher based in South London. He has an interest in social determinants, tackling health inequities and global mental health. He hopes to proactively engage in these areas through clinical work, academia, health policy and advocacy.
Sam gained his MBBS and an intercalated BSc in Global Health from King’s College London. During this time, he also undertook public health placements in Sierra Leone, India, USA and at Public Health England. Upon graduating, he completed the Academic Foundation Program, where he researched the barriers and facilitators to mental health care and opioid access in Malawi and South Asia. In 2018, he started specialty training in psychiatry having secured an NIHR funded Academic Clinical Fellowship.
In the last year, he has been co-investigator of NHS Check – a large cohort study that looks into the mental health impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. As part of this, he is chief investigator of a randomised controlled trial that seeks to determine the efficacy of a wellbeing intervention. Though these and other projects, he has had the opportunity to present at national and international conferences, publish academic manuscripts and author book chapters. He continues to develop his editorial skills as trainee editor for the International Journal of Social Psychiatry and as co-editor of textbooks on global volunteering in mental health and management for psychiatrists.
Sam has contributed to policy documents and reviews, and through this fellowship, hopes to further these pursuits and skills. Most recently, he authored a commissioned policy report for the CARE-IF and EM Foundations, and contributed to a World Psychiatric Association Position Statement.
Alongside his clinical work and research, Sam has held a number of formative leadership and advocacy roles. He was co-founder of the Ethical Procurement for Health National Working Group, president of a university global health society, youth ambassador for Global Poverty Project and One Campaign, and trainee BMA representative. His current role as committee member of the South East London Integrated Care System Staff Wellbeing Committee has provided him with an understanding of integrated care systems and their functioning.
Reason for applying for the scheme
His experience and exposure in public health and global health settings have given him an insight into the need for tangible project management, leadership and policy skills to make meaningful and sustainable contributions to addressing health inequity. In addition to seeking to broaden such skills during this fellowship, he hopes to build upon his understanding of the NHS landscape and how national organisations collaborate across different sectors and with local partners to improve patient care. Further, as an aspiring academic clinician, he hopes to better understand how academics can work with policymakers to aid real-time decision making.
Sam is looking forward to working with colleagues and senior healthcare leaders at NIHR and across other healthcare organisations. He is happy to be contacted and welcomes the opportunity to connect.
