Health Economist | Econometrician | Policy Researcher
Transforming Complex Data into Actionable Global Health Policy
Health Economist at the CDC Foundation, supporting the Division of Global Health Protection with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA. Leading the Data to Policy (D2P) program under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative, working with international health ministries across 19 countries.
Originally from Nepal, my career journey has spanned Kathmandu, Texas, and Georgia—evolving from applied economics to the high-stakes intersection of health economics, statistics, and global health policy. My work bridges rigorous quantitative methodology with real-world policy impact, translating complex econometric analyses into actionable evidence for decision-makers.
With a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Georgia, complemented by an MS in Statistics, I specialize in causal inference, structural econometric modeling, and health economic evaluation. My research addresses critical questions at the intersection of public policy and population health: How do safety net programs affect vulnerable populations? What incentive structures can improve public health outcomes? How can we optimize resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries?
"I believe data is only as valuable as the policy it informs. My mission is to make complex simulation models and econometric analyses accessible to government leaders, ensuring evidence-based resource allocation that prioritizes equity and maximizes population health impact. Every regression tells a story about people's lives; every model should guide decisions that improve those lives."
Applied Economics
University of Georgia, 2022
University of Georgia, 2021
Texas Tech University, 2016
Tribhuvan University, Nepal
My research program combines theoretical rigor, methodological innovation, and policy relevance across three interconnected themes.
Evaluating how economic policies and social programs affect vulnerable populations, with emphasis on food security, health outcomes, and financial well-being during economic disruptions.
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2023
Analyzed the impact of $600/week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation expiration on 18+ million households. Found 9.7% reduction in food spending and 6.0% decline in food sufficiency using control function approach in endogenous switching regression framework.
Nutrients, 2021
Using Nielsen Homescan data with billions of transaction records, estimated demand elasticities using the Exact Affine Stone Index demand system. Quantified SNAP's impact on nutritional quality and spending patterns.
Designing and evaluating innovative public health interventions using behavioral economics frameworks and rigorous causal inference methods.
JAMA Network Open, 2021 | 79 Citations | Co-First Author
Evaluated lottery-based vaccine incentive programs across multiple states using 403,714 individual responses and state-level vaccination data. Applied difference-in-differences with augmented synthetic control methods. Found 2.1% overall uptake increase with substantial heterogeneity—ineffective in Republican-leaning states (AR, KY, WV).
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Focus, 2024
Analyzed 1.2M+ adults from BRFSS 2020-2022. Sole e-cigarette users showed 7% higher prediabetes odds (AOR 1.07); dual users showed 24% higher prediabetes odds (AOR 1.24) and 4% higher diabetes odds. Identified disparities by education, income, BMI, and race/ethnicity—critical for FDA tobacco regulation.
Leveraging machine learning and advanced statistical methods to predict disease risk, identify modifiable risk factors, and inform clinical screening protocols.
Int. J. Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021 | 301 Citations | Co-First Author
Developed and validated ML models (Random Forest, XGBoost, Neural Networks) for Type 2 Diabetes prediction using BRFSS data. Achieved 85%+ accuracy identifying high-risk individuals. Work has influenced clinical screening protocols and risk stratification approaches globally.
JAMA Network Open, 2024
Comprehensive decade-long analysis of diabetes prevalence trends across demographic subgroups. Identified widening disparities by race/ethnicity, education, and geographic region, informing targeted intervention strategies.
Climate change adaptation strategies in Nepal: 21.6% revenue increase, 6.4% risk reduction. Published in Resources, Environment and Sustainability (42 citations).
Interdisciplinary ResearchAgriBERT transformer models for agricultural text analysis (IJCAI 2022, 81 citations). LLM bias research examining human-like biases in large language models.
Data Science InnovationCost-effectiveness analyses for NCDs, cancer screening, maternal health, and road safety across 19 LMICs. Decision modeling training for international health economists.
Capacity Building25+ peer-reviewed publications | 1000 citations | h-index: 15 | i10-index: 20
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Developed predictive models achieving 85%+ accuracy, influencing clinical screening protocols globally.
International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI)
Transformer models for agricultural text analysis and knowledge extraction using domain-specific pretraining.
JAMA Network Open
Evaluated state lottery programs using 403K+ responses. Found 2.1% uptake increase with substantial state heterogeneity.
Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Demonstrated 21.6% revenue increase and 6.4% risk reduction from climate adaptation strategies.
CDC Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative
Leading the Data to Policy (D2P) program supporting the Division of Global Health Protection at CDC, working with international health ministries across 19 countries to strengthen evidence-based priority-setting and resource allocation for population health interventions.
University of Georgia
Conducted dissertation research on health economics and safety net programs while serving as instructor of record for undergraduate econometrics courses.
Taught econometric methods and computational skills using Stata/R. Students worked with real datasets (Nielsen scanner data, BRFSS) to answer policy questions.
Analyzed SNAP participation effects using structural demand models and Nielsen/IRI scanner data with billions of observations.
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Led academic instruction in agricultural economics, supervised undergraduate research projects, and mentored students in quantitative research methods. Developed curriculum for applied econometrics and rural development economics.
Nepal Development Research Institute, Kathmandu
Conducted policy research on regional development, agricultural productivity, and climate adaptation. Collaborated with government agencies and international development organizations on evidence generation for rural development programs.
Committed to research-integrated pedagogy that transforms students into independent researchers capable of producing evidence-based insights.
Independent studies, honors theses, research skills development, career guidance
Professional skill building, applied project supervision, industry connections, PhD preparation
Dissertation guidance, co-authorship, conference presentations, job market preparation
Training health economists and supporting evidence-based health policy across 19 countries through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.
Lusaka, Zambia • March 2-5, 2026
Leading regional capacity-building workshop for African health economists on cost-effectiveness analysis and priority-setting frameworks.
Cebu, Philippines • January 26-30, 2025
Trained 37 participants from 19 countries on Markov models, microsimulation, and cost-effectiveness analysis for NCDs, cancer screening, and maternal health.
Collaborating with ministries of health, WHO country offices, and regional training centers to strengthen health economics capacity and evidence-based decision-making.
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 2020
University of Georgia (Multiple Years)
USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab
University of Georgia, 2016-2022
Reviewer for leading journals including:
Instructor of Record: Analytical & Computational Tools for Applied Economics, University of Georgia
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I treasure time spent with my wife, Usha, and our daughter, Chaha. Beyond the data and models, I am a passionate traveler exploring diverse cultures, a dedicated home cook, a swimmer, a hiker, an avid reader of classical and contemporary literature, and a keen observer of developments in AI and financial markets.
"The best econometric models are those that remember they're describing human lives, not just data points."