The 5^th International Conference

Completed a successful and distinguished National Health Service (NHS. UK) career in psychiatry which included clinical practice, research, and national policy. Cited and acclaimed as one of the 40 people of Asian Origin to have influenced the development and shaped the NHS; Nurturing the Nation: The Asian Contribution to the NHS since 1948, he is the architect of Geopsychiatry, an exciting intersectoral field focusing on the interface between geopolitical events and their impact on the practice of psychiatry across all ages and subspecialities.

He has received many significant global psychiatry awards including:

• World Psychiatric Association Lifetime Fellow; Berlin Germany 2017.
• World Association of Cultural Psychiatry “Seva Award” Columbia University: New York USA. 2018
• World Psychiatric Association Presidential Commendation Award; Vienna Austria 2023

Dr. Adu-Krow is a distinguished public health professional with extensive experience in international health leadership and program management. He is the former Resident Representative of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and has held numerous senior positions with PAHO/WHO, demonstrating a strong track record in governmental affairs, strategic planning, program evaluation, and strategy development.
Dr. Adu-Krow earned his MBChB in Family Practice from the University of Science and Technology, School of Medical Science in Ghana, followed by an MPH in Family Health and a DrPH in Survey Research from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. His academic credentials and practical experience have established him as a trusted expert in both clinical and programmatic settings.

Throughout his career, Dr. Adu-Krow has worked in a variety of key positions. He began his career as the Medical Officer of Health for the Ministry of Health, Barbados from 1989 to 1993. He later took on the role of Director for Research and Development at the New York Urban League, Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership in 1997. From 1997 to 2001, he served as Program Director for HIV Early Intervention Services at the Newark Community Health Centers.

Dr. Adu-Krow’s tenure with PAHO/WHO spanned from 2001 to 2007, where he worked as the Sub-Regional Advisor for Family and Reproductive Health in Barbados and later as the Regional Advisor for Gender, Health and Development in Washington, DC. His expertise was further recognized in 2008 and 2010, when he was appointed as WHO Country Liaison Officer, and later as WHO Representative for Papua New Guinea.

Currently, Dr. Adu-Krow serves as the PAHO/WHO Country Representative in Georgetown, Guyana, where he continues to contribute significantly to public health initiatives and the strengthening of health systems in the region.

In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Adu-Krow is also the Project Director and Co-Investigator for the Guyana Well-Being Study and serves as a Co-Investigator/Faculty for the Columbia University-University of Guyana Research in Injury and Trauma Training (GRITT) Program, further advancing public health research and education.

Throughout his career, Dr. Adu-Krow has earned a reputation as a highly respected, trusted, and admired professional, known for his commitment to improving health outcomes and advancing public health initiatives both in the Caribbean and globally.

Dr. Davendranand Sharma is a highly experienced psychiatrist with over 30 years of dedicated service in the field of mental health. Trained at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica, Dr. Sharma has built a distinguished career with extensive experience across multiple countries, including Grenada, Dominica, and Guyana.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sharma has held several leadership roles, notably serving as the Head of Mental Health in Grenada and Dominica, where he was instrumental in shaping mental health services and policy. He also served as the Chair of Behavioral Sciences at Ross University in Dominica, where he contributed significantly to the academic and clinical training of medical students.

In 2019, following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Dominica, Dr. Sharma returned to Guyana and took on a key role as a consultant for the Ministry of Health. During this time, he also held the academic rank of Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Texila American University, where he mentored and trained the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Currently, Dr. Sharma continues his work as a psychiatrist at St. George’s University in Grenada, providing expert medical care while also contributing to the academic community.

Dr. Sharma’s career reflects a deep commitment to improving mental health care and education in the Caribbean and beyond. His work has had a profound impact on both the clinical and academic spheres, and he remains dedicated to advancing mental health services and training for healthcare providers.

Dr. Mahendra Carpen is a Guyanese born Interventional Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist who is the Head of Medical Services and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana. Dr. Carpen also serves as the Consultant Cardiologist to the Caribbean Heart Institute and is the Managing Director of Cardiology Services Inc. at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Guyana. He is a co-director of the Guyana Partnership to Advance Cardiac Care and the chairman of the Cardiac Oversight Committee.
He started his medical career at the University of Guyana, School of Medicine where he got his MBBS in 1997 and received the Prime Minister’s award for being the best graduate in the School of Medicine, the Vice Chancellor’s Award for the best graduate in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Rolph Richards Prize for Internal Medicine.
Dr. Carpen completed his DM in Internal Medicine at the UWI, Mona in 2006 before serving as the Clinical Tutor for Internal Medicine at UWI Bahamas. He then went to the University of Toronto and completed Residency training in Adult Cardiology and Fellowship training in Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Carpen subsequently went on to Tufts University in Boston USA to complete a second Fellowship in Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology.
He returned to Guyana in 2012 and has since been immersed in the development of cardiac services in Guyana and the Caribbean. He was pivotal in setting up the first Cardiac ICU in the Georgetown Public Hospital, staff recruitment, training and education as well as establishing treatment protocols for common cardiac presentations.
Dr. Carpen has published several abstracts, peer reviewed articles and regularly provides CME lectures in Guyana and across the Caribbean. He is a research supervisor for Interns and medical students in Guyana and serves as a clinical proctor for visiting international medical students.
His willingness to travel around the Caribbean to provide care for his patients is rooted in his own personal experience and belief that “Healing is more than just taking pills or having procedures, it is best achieved in a patient’s own environment when surrounded by friends, family and loved ones.”

Dr. Kumar Sukhraj is a highly accomplished medical professional with a strong academic and clinical background. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Guyana in 2006, where he earned the prestigious Harry Persaud Memorial Award for achieving the highest grade in the Taxonomy Course within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. Following this, he pursued his Bachelor of Medicine – Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Guyana, graduating in 2011.

Dr. Sukhraj furthered his medical education by completing a Master’s in Diabetology from the University of South Wales, UK, enhancing his expertise in diabetes care and management. He is also a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider by the American Heart Association, demonstrating his commitment to high standards of patient care.

In recognition of his exceptional presentation skills, Dr. Sukhraj was awarded the Best Presenter Award for his intern’s presentation at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in October 2012.

Currently, Dr. Sukhraj serves as the Head of the Diabetic Foot Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he leads a team dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot complications.

His work plays a crucial role in improving the quality of care for diabetic patients in Guyana, and he continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of healthcare in the region.

Dr. Rajesh Kapoor is a distinguished Surgical Gastroenterologist with over 37 years of experience in the field. He holds an MBBS, MS in General Surgery, and MCh in Surgical Gastroenterology from the renowned Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. Dr. Kapoor has performed over 30,000 surgeries in the areas of GI, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreaticobiliary surgery, establishing Surgical Gastroenterology as a specialty in the Delhi-NCR and Western UP regions.

He is known for his expertise in GI Oncology, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, and Minimal Access Surgery (Laparoscopic and Robotic). As a committed educator, Dr. Kapoor has trained numerous surgeons and serves as the Director of the Surgical Teaching Program for Dr NB-GI Surgery.

Dr. Kapoor’s international training includes advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at the Leeds Institute of Minimal Invasive Surgery (UK), experience at the National Cancer Centers in Kashiwa East Japan and Tokyo, as well as the Hepatopancreatobiliary Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He has also trained in Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Centre, Chicago, and in Colorectal Surgery at Severance Hospital, Seoul.

He is an active member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the Association of Surgeons of India, Indian Society of Gastroenterology, Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India, and the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology.

Dr. Rahul Bansal is a distinguished medical professional with extensive experience in academia and healthcare. He completed his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in 1978 from Meerut College, Meerut, followed by an M.B.B.S. from L.L.R.M. Medical College, Meerut University, in 1983, where he succeeded in his first attempt. Dr. Bansal further pursued his M.D. in Social & Preventive Medicine, achieving this qualification in his first attempt in 1988, from the same institution.

Dr. Bansal’s academic career spans over three decades. He served as Lecturer, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, from 1989 to 1996, before advancing to the position of Associate Professor and Professor at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences from 1997 to 2004. Since 2004, he has held the position of Professor and Head at Subharti Medical College, Meerut, and continues to contribute as a Professor and Advisor at the institution.

His dedication to teaching earned him the Best Teacher Award from the management of Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in 1999. In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Bansal was awarded the Commonwealth Fellowship to attend an International Short Course in Geriatrics at the UN-Centre (INIA) in Malta in 1994.

Dr. Bansal is a prolific researcher, having published over 60 research articles in prestigious national and international journals. His work has garnered significant recognition, with 848 citations and an H-index of 14. His academic interests include Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, and the spiritual dimensions of health, areas in which he is deeply involved.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Bansal is passionate about holistic health and runs a YouTube channel titled Satvik Holistic Health, which currently has a growing audience of around 1000 subscribers. He is also the founder and General Secretary of AGE-Mangalore (Action Group for Elderly), a registered NGO dedicated to the welfare of the elderly.

Dr. Bansal’s contributions to the fields of education, healthcare, and research have made him a respected figure in the medical community, with a lasting impact on both his students and the wider public.

Dr. Andria Veeren is a skilled psychiatrist and dedicated academic, currently serving as the Head of the Department (HOD) of Psychiatry at the East Bank of Demerara Regional Hospital, where she oversees psychiatric services across several health facilities in the region. Dr. Veeren holds an MD and a Master of Medicine in Psychiatry (MMEd), and she has developed extensive experience working in mental health services across Guyana.

Dr. Veeren graduated in 2015 from the Cecelia Sanchez Manduley. After graduating, she worked in various hospitals across Guyana, gaining hands-on experience in different medical and clinical settings. In 2018, she pursued her specialization in Psychiatry and went on to graduate in 2022 from the University of Guyana, in collaboration with McMaster University in Canada.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Veeren is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science and Basic Psychiatry at Texila American University College of Medicine, where she contributes to the education and training of future healthcare professionals, shaping the next generation of psychiatrists. Her dedication to both patient care and education has earned her a reputation as a trusted leader in the mental health field in Guyana.

Dr. Veeren’s commitment to improving mental health care in her community is evident in her leadership role at the East Bank of Demerara Regional Hospital and her active involvement in psychiatric services across the region. She continues to make valuable contributions to the mental health sector through her clinical expertise, academic role, and leadership in the healthcare system.

Dr. Svetlana Famina is an American board-certified psychiatrist with a decade of experience in behavioral health. Originally from Belarus, she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she earned her undergraduate degree in biology and physiology from the University of Toronto. She then pursued her medical education at Saba University School of Medicine, graduating in 2015.

Dr. Famina completed her residency in psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2019. Currently, she serves as an attending physician at Mercy Health System in Paducah, Kentucky, where she provides both inpatient and outpatient care, as well as consultation liaison services. Her areas of special interest include neurocognitive disorders, sleep disorders, and personality disorders.

Dr. Vedika Latchmi Panday is a dedicated medical professional with a specialization in internal medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Guyana, where she established a solid foundation in medical science and patient care. Recently, she enhanced her qualifications by obtaining a master’s degree in Internal Medicine.

Currently, Dr. Panday holds the position of Medical Registrar in the Internal Medicine Department at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in Guyana. In this capacity, she is committed to delivering high-quality patient care and ensuring optimal treatment for her patients. Her guiding principle, “a nation’s wealth lies in its health,” fuels her passion for improving health outcomes within the community.

Recognized for her empathetic approach, Dr. Panday understands the significance of addressing both the physical and emotional needs of her patients. Her dedication to hard work and continuous learning makes her an invaluable member of the healthcare team at GPHC, where she actively contributes to enhancing the overall health of the population she serves.