Umar Mukthar Joshi Velaga

Umar Mukthar Joshi Velaga graduated from Tongji University, Shanghai, with a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Bachelor’s in Surgery (MBBS), and also received a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, India, While in Israel, Umar will be studying for her Masters in Public Health Program at Haifa University, specializing in Health Systems Administration and Global Health Leadership.

Umar is passionate about addressing the lack of awareness in India on mental health and women’s health issues, particularly regarding menstruation and sexual health. While on the fellowship program, she plans to develop a project to raise awareness of these challenges among Israeli healthcare start-ups and other key stakeholders in order to help encourage Israel-India partnerships to seek creative solutions to these healthcare challenges.

Umar has previously worked as an intern at Shanghai East Hospital and at Aayush NRI Lepl Hospital in India. She was also a freelance writer for an online magazine in Shanghai, and served as an Indian representative, treasurer and president of the International Students Association and MBBS Student Council at Tongji University in Shanghai.