About RAHI-SATHI
RAHI-SATHI is a global health partnership focused on improving health and well-being in rural India. It began in 2010 as a collaboration between the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan) in the United States and Bhaikaka University in Gujarat, India. Bhaikaka University is part of Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM), which is the umbrella organization. CAM oversees both Bhaikaka University, which focuses on education and research, and Shree Krishna Hospital, which provides healthcare services.
At its heart, RAHI-SATHI is about partnership. It’s about building long-term relationships based on trust, respect, and shared goals between the institutions as well as the communities, to understand health challenges from the ground up and co-design solutions that truly work for communities.
The Collaboration between University of Massachusetts and Bhaikaka University
About University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS)
UMass Chan Medical School has been a key institutional partner in advancing the RAHI-SATHI collaboration. Through the Capstone Scholarship and Discovery Course, students designed and executed global health projects that supported their academic growth while addressing real-world health challenges. The Global Health Pathway further integrated immersive global experiences into the medical curriculum, offering early exposure to research and service in low-resource settings. The Office of Global Health at UMMS played a vital role—not only advocating for global engagement but directly funding it. Three rounds of pilot grants from the Office were instrumental in launching and sustaining multiple RAHI–SATHI research efforts, including maternal health cohort studies and mobile screening for atrial fibrillation. Faculty from across departments—including public health, surgery, obstetrics, psychiatry, and cardiology—have served as mentors and collaborators, reinforcing a multidisciplinary, institution-wide commitment to global health equity.
About Bhaikaka University, Chartur Arogya Mandal (CAM)
Bhaikaka University is an academic institution in rural Gujarat, India, focused on health sciences education and research. It offers programs in medicine, nursing, public health, and allied health fields. Students are trained through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on clinical experience at Shree Krishna Hospital. As the academic partner in the RAHI-SATHI collaboration, Bhaikaka University plays a central role in mentoring students, supporting research initiatives, and advancing healthcare innovation in rural settings.
Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM) is the parent organization of Bhaikaka University. It oversees both the university and Shree Krishna Hospital, as well as several primary and secondary health centers in the region. CAM is committed to improving health and well-being in underserved communities through clinical care, community outreach, and public health programs. Its Community Extension Department trains village health workers to provide disease prevention, health education, and basic care. CAM’s Central Research Services, established in 2009, supports community-based research that responds to local health needs.
Working across borders
Together, our teams study pressing health challenges such as heart disease, injuries, and maternal and child health. By combining real-world data, close engagement with communities, and digital tools like mobile technology, the partnership designs and tests practical solutions to strengthen healthcare systems in low-resource settings.
Beyond research, the collaboration focuses on education and capacity-building. The Twinning Model allows students and early-career professionals from both institutions to learn through hands-on experience, receive mentorship, and gain cross-cultural understanding. The shared commitment of UMass Chan and Bhaikaka University to advancing equitable healthcare forms the foundation of the RAHI-SATHI partnership.
Our Journey
RAHI-SATHI began in 2010 as a student-led collaboration between UMass Chan Medical School in the United States and Bhaikaka University in Gujarat, India. Bhaikaka University is part of Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM), a nonprofit organization that oversees both education and health care in the region. The collaboration began with a friendly cricket match, which sparked the initial connection among the founders. The first collaborative project focused on a community-based health needs assessment. The assessment helped identify major health concerns in rural areas, such as limited care for pregnant women and newborns, high rates of injuries, and undiagnosed chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. These findings laid the foundation for a long-term partnership focused on research, education, and public health programs in rural communities.
The collaboration was co-founded by Dr. Nisha Fahey, Dr. Apurv Soni, Dr. Jeroan Allison, and Dr. Somashekhar Nimbalkar with the goal of creating a global health partnership that is equal, long-term, and grounded in the needs of the community.
Founders of RAHI-SATHI
Apurv Soni, MD, PhD
Dr. Soni is a physician-scientist at UMass Chan Medical School, with expertise in digital health and health systems research. He led the SMART-India project, which used mobile ECG devices to screen for atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat) in rural communities. His work focuses on using data and technology to improve healthcare delivery, especially in underserved settings. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, he has played a key role in shaping its long-term vision and strategy.
Dr. Nisha Fahey, DO, ScM
Dr. Fahey is a physician and public health researcher with a focus on maternal and child health. She has led community-based research on improving outcomes for mothers and newborns, including work on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)—a method that uses skin-to-skin contact to support newborn development. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, Dr. Fahey has helped build training programs for students and young professionals, creating space for cross-cultural learning and meaningful fieldwork.
Dr. Somashekhar Nimbalkar, MD
Dr. Nimbalkar is a pediatrician and academic leader at Charutar Arogya Mandal (CAM) in Gujarat, India. He has led several important research projects, including a long-term neonatal cohort study and the development of a hospital-based trauma registry. Dr. Nimbalkar is committed to building local research capacity, mentoring young clinicians, and ensuring that health interventions are informed by the needs of rural communities. His leadership has been central to the growth and success of the RAHI-SATHI partnership.
Dr. Jeroan Allison, MD MS
Dr. Allison is a physician, epidemiologist, and Chair of the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. His research focuses on developing health equity interventions, including narrative storytelling to address disparities in healthcare. Over the past 15 years, he has secured continuous funding from national organizations such as the NIH, AHRQ, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As a co-founder of RAHI-SATHI, Dr. Allison brings expertise in public health research, mentorship, and advancing global efforts to create more equitable healthcare systems.