Public Health Diaries - Dr. Swetha P
Name: Dr. Swetha P
Educational Qualification: BDS, Century International Institute of Dental Science and Research Centre, Poinachi, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
MPH (Master of Public Health), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Public Health and Disease Control, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Where are you currently working?
I am currently working at ICMR NCDIR (National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research), Bangalore, Karnataka, India, as a Project Scientist 1 (Medical).
What are your areas of interest within your profession?
Systematic reviewing, Data analysis, and Manuscript writing.
What made you choose public health research as a profession?
A friend working in the field introduced me to the course, and I developed an interest from there.
Any 3 topics/subjects that you like the most.
Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Health policy.
Any topics/subjects that you dislike/detest:
Social science.
What are your career goals or expectations?
I aspire to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the future.
What would you be doing if not for the current profession?
I would be practicing dentistry.
What do you like to do in your leisure time?
Travelling with my family.
Who do you idolize and why?
All the working women are my inspiration.
Kindly mention your achievements or awards:
I was the topper in the 4th semester of my MPH course.
What is nutritional deficiency?
It refers to a lack of essential nutrients in the body.
How one can know he/she is nutritional deficient? Are there any specific tests to check?
Blood tests can determine if you are deficient; various signs and symptoms may also provide hints.
How can one overcome this?
Consuming a balanced diet is the solution.
How can you prevent yourself from nutrition deficiency in the first place? Do you need supplementation or simple home meal is sufficient?
Supplements are needed if you are not consuming a balanced diet.
Which public health or nutrition topics are you most passionate about?
I’m especially passionate about micronutrients.
Please provide us with advice on how to eat healthy and balanced meals on a tight schedule.
Prioritize your health and turn healthy eating into a habit.
In which area of public health and nutrition do you have the most expertise?
Nutritional deficiency is my area of expertise.
How do you feel about the increasing trend of junk food over traditional Indian meals?
It's true to an extent, but this is a result of busy lifestyles.
Please list some readable websites or publications or anything that you use to keep up with the most recent research in your profession.
WHO portal and PubMed research are two sites I use to keep myself informed.
What change would you like to bring about in the Health or Nutrition sector?
Increased awareness and intake of supplements along with a balanced diet.
And finally, what message would you like to give to today's youth?
Health is wealth.
