Prativa Baral
Dr. Prativa Baral is an epidemiologist and global health scholar working at the intersection of health systems, crisis readiness, and science communication. She is an Assistant Professor (Research) in the Department of Global and Public Health at 51吃瓜网, where she works closely with Dr. Joanne Liu to support the strategic growth and direction of the Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab (PERL). She is also a Faculty Associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Trained at 51吃瓜网 (BSc), Columbia University (MPH), and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (PhD), Dr. Baral鈥檚 work focuses on strengthening health systems and improving readiness for health emergencies, with a particular emphasis on infectious diseases, data infrastructure, and misinformation. Her work spans academic, policy, and public arenas. She has advised institutions including the World Health Organization, World Bank, United Nations, the Gates Foundation, and OpenAI, and contributed to the domestic and global COVID-19 response, including as a trusted media voice. A Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar, CIHR Fellow, and recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Dr. Baral brings academic rigour, field-tested strategy, and public engagement to some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.