Meet the Heart Health India Foundation Team

At Heart Health India Foundation (HHIF), our team is the driving force behind our mission to build a heart-healthy India. Comprising experienced leaders, patient advocates, and medical experts, we work together to enhance awareness, support patients, and advance heart health initiatives across the country.

Leadership Team

Ram Khandelwal

CEO & Founder

Ram Khandelwal is a heart patient advocate, strategist, and visionary leader, driven by both personal experience as a heart attack survivor at the age of 33 and global expertise in public sector consulting. As the Founder & CEO of Heart Health India Foundation (HHIF), he has built a nationwide heart health movement advocating for awareness, patient support, and policy change. Leveraging his 15+ years in consulting with corporates like PwC, CRISIL and as consultant the World Bank, and UN-Habitat, he brings a powerful blend of corporate acumen, policy expertise, and deep compassion to transform cardiovascular health in India. His mission is clear—empower patients, drive systemic change, and build a heart-healthy nation.

Aditi Khandelwal

Co-founder & Director

Aditi Khandelwal is a resilient leader, communications strategist, and passionate advocate for heart health, deeply shaped by her personal journey. When her husband suffered a heart attack at just 33, she was a new mother navigating postpartum recovery, yet she faced the darkest side of heart disease with strength and determination. With over a decade of experience in social impact and development communications, working with clients like Tata Steel Foundation, USAID, and FCDO, she brings a unique blend of expertise and lived experience to HHIF’s mission. A firm believer in education and compassion—elements often missing in clinical care, she ensures HHIF’s programs not only inform but also heal and empower families facing heart disease.

Nikhil Jadhav

Head – Strategy & Operations

Nikkhil is a healthcare strategist, marketing expert, and serial entrepreneur committed to impact-driven innovation. As a key leader at HHIF, he drives strategic outreach, partnerships, and marketing to expand the foundation’s reach. Having experienced the challenges of caregiving for heart patients, he is dedicated to improving patient communication and accessibility. With expertise in healthcare marketing, he has led patient-centric campaigns, scaled startups, and built strategic alliances with hospitals and digital health platforms. His startup Healthy Labs was acqui-hired by Healthians, and he has contributed to business development, branding, and digital transformation for organizations like Apex Group of Hospitals. A mentor at IITs and the Wadhwani Foundation, he guides healthcare startups in innovation and growth.

Patient Advisory Council

The voices of our patient community shape our advocacy and support efforts. These dedicated individuals bring invaluable insights from their lived experiences to improve patient care and education.

Dhananjay Yellurkar

Mumbai

A heart attack survivor with a bypass surgery and global marathon runner, Dhananjay actively promotes physical fitness and heart health awareness through HHIF’s outreach programs.

Sajid Ur Rehman

Kolkata

Sajid leverages his experience as a heart attack and stroke survivor with comorbidities to guide others through recovery and lifestyle adjustments, advocating for better healthcare access.

Achin Biyani

Delhi

A finance professional and heart patient advocate, Achin contributes his expertise to HHIF’s strategic planning and patient support initiatives.

Sunita Dani

Hyderabad

With firsthand experience in navigating cardiac challenges related to cardiomyopathy and heart failure in family, Sunita provides mentorship and support to fellow heart patients in her community.

Padmalakshmi

Chennai

Padmalakshmi is a public health professional and family member of a heart attack and stroke survivor. She brings in a blend of health advocacy and lived experience as a caregiver to help others living with heart conditions.

Sunanda Berry

Chandigarh

Sunanda, heart attack survivor, a fitness and positive lifestyle enthusiast, and an educator, champions patient rights and awareness, focusing on educating women about heart health risks and early detection.

Devendra Soni

Indore

Devendra is cardiac arrest and heart attack survivor dedicated to organizing heart health camps and workshops, ensuring communities have access to essential cardiovascular care.

Deepa Dass

Pune

Deepa brings a patient-centered approach to HHIF as a caregiver to heart patients, advocating for emotional well-being and mental health support for heart patients.

Board Advisors

Our board advisors provide strategic guidance and expertise, ensuring our programs align with the highest standards of healthcare and patient advocacy.

Dr. Upendra Kaul

Dr. Upendra Kaul is a pioneering Indian cardiologist and a leading expert in interventional cardiology. He currently serves as Chairman and Dean of Academics & Research at Batra Hospital and Medical Research Center. A former professor at AIIMS and Fortis Healthcare, he has performed advanced procedures such as coronary stenting and percutaneous laser myocardial revascularization. He received the highest Indian award in the medical category, the Dr. B. C. Roy Award, in 1999. The President of India honored him with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2006, for his contributions to Indian medicine. He has authored over 450 research papers and founded the Gauri Kaul Foundation, dedicated to preventing heart attacks through public awareness programs.

Dr. Ashwani Mehta

Dr. Ashwani Mehta is a Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Director of the Heart Failure Program & Research at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. With extensive expertise in non-invasive and interventional cardiology, he has successfully performed numerous angiograms, angioplasties, and cardiac device implantations, including Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). Renowned for his contributions to heart failure management, he is widely regarded as one of India's leading cardiologists. Dr. Mehta has authored several publications in esteemed medical journals and is a co-author of the Lipid Guidelines of India, contributing to evidence-based cardiovascular care.

Scientific Advisory Board

Medical expertise is at the core of our work. Our Scientific Advisory Board consists of esteemed cardiologists and researchers who guide our educational and awareness initiatives with evidence-based insights.

Dr. Virendra Sarwal

Dr. Virendar Sarwal is a renowned Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon with over 8,000 heart surgeries performed. A member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (USA), he pioneered Endoscopic Vein Harvesting (EVH) and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) in North India. He has established five cardiac surgery centers and contributed to internationally recognized cardiac programs at PGIMER, Fortis, and Max Hospitals. His innovative techniques have improved high-risk cardiac surgery success rates, earning global recognition, including a Travel Award from the World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons.

Dr. Christopher Johann

Dr. Johann Christopher is a Consultant in Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging at CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, with 16 years of experience. He holds fellowships from Harvard Medical School and George Washington University in cardiac imaging. An executive member of the Asian Society of Cardiac Imaging, he has led multiple international clinical trials and published extensively in cardiac imaging and heart failure research. Recognized for his expertise in nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and interventional procedures, he has received numerous national and international awards, including the AV Gandhi Gold Medal for original research

Dr. Greeshma Shenoy

Dr. Greeshma Shenoy is a Full-Time Consultant in Cardiac Rehabilitation at Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital, with 12 years of experience. Specializing in exercise physiology and cardiopulmonary physiotherapy, she has extensive expertise in post-surgical cardiac care, including bypass surgery, angioplasty, pacemakers, and AICD management. She has contributed to research at the Sydney & J.L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Texas, and has presented at national and international conferences. Passionate about preventive cardiology, she actively conducts health talks and patient training programs, including preparing cardiac patients for marathons.

Dr. Satish Madiraju

Dr. Satish Madiraju is an interventional cardiologist and a board-certified expert in Internal Medicine, Vascular Medicine, and Endovascular Medicine, with extensive experience in structural heart interventions. Trained at Brown Medical School and the University of Massachusetts, he has worked with Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute and Prairie Heart Institute. His expertise includes TAVR, TMVR, transradial interventions, and endovascular therapies. A health-tech entrepreneur, he focuses on innovative healthcare solutions, cost-effectiveness, and patient-centered care. With 20+ years in cardiology, he is committed to leveraging technology to improve cardiovascular outcomes and optimize healthcare delivery at scale.

Dr. Raghu Kishore Galla

Dr. Raghu Kishore Galla is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, with advanced training in Heart Failure and Transplantation from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He specializes in heart attack, heart failure, congenital heart disease, valvular disorders, and vascular diseases, performing complex interventions such as coronary angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, and peripheral angioplasty. He successfully conducted Orbital Atherectomy-guided Angioplasty at KIMS to avoid bypass surgery in a high-risk patient. As the State Nodal Officer for STEMI-Telangana, he led a cloud-based ECG and thrombolysis program to enhance early STEMI diagnosis and treatment across Telangana.

Dr. Shazina Saeed

Dr. Shazina Saeed is a Public Health Professional, Preventive Cardiologist, and Geneticist, currently holding a senior academic position at Amity University, Noida. With an MBBS, MPH in Public Health Genetics, and MS in Clinical Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh, she has over a decade of experience in public health, cardiovascular genetics, and preventive cardiology. A recipient of NIH-funded research grants, she has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and serves as a reviewer and associate editor for international journals. She leads ICMR-funded projects on congenital heart defects, healthcare quality, and digital health adoption in chronic disease management.

Dr. M Sudhakar Rao

Dr. M. Sudhakar Rao is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, specializing in complex coronary interventions, structural heart procedures, and peripheral angioplasties. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), European Society of Cardiology (FESC), and SCAI, he has independently performed over 10,000 coronary angiograms and 5,000 angioplasties, primarily through transradial access. A passionate educator and researcher, he has over 70 publications in peer-reviewed journals and serves as a reviewer for multiple cardiology journals. He is also the founder of Cardio Blogger, an educational platform dedicated to providing expert insights, resources, and up-to-date information on cardiovascular health for medical students and the general public.

Together in Heart Health

At HHIF, our collective strength lies in collaboration. From leadership to patient advocates and medical experts, our team is committed to making heart health education, support, and advocacy accessible to all. We believe that every individual deserves the knowledge and resources to lead a heart-healthy life.
Join us in our journey towards a heart healthy future of India! To become part of our network and serve others, connect with us today.